Shell obtuse, whorls circular in section, loosely coiled, telescoped so that the first 2 ½ post-nuclear whorls are perfectly flat. The whorls coil around a central space of slightly greater diameter than the whorl diameter. Protoconch as a small callus blob. On the top of the post-nuclear whorls there is a narrow spiral slit with slightly flexuous edges. Above the slit the whorls are sculptured with distinct dense waved spiral lamellae, below with strong rugose transverse deep cracks. A few irregular spirals continued below the slit cut the transverse cracks into rectangular shapes, reminiscent of a dried mud. Underneath, the transverse cracks are still stronger, and protractive in direction. The type specimen represents the early compacted whorls, but fragments indicate that later the shell meanders and then straightens out in the usual manner.

Diameter of shell (at 3 ½ whorls), 16 mm.; height, 11 mm.; diameter of whorl, 5·5 mm.
Holotype in writer's collection, Auckland Museum.
Locality: Off Three Kings Islands in 140 fathoms.

The species is nearest to the Queensland ponderosa, which apart from being larger is more tightly coiled and has weak radials on the upper striated surface.