Shell small, 4-8 mm., narrowly fusiform to cylindrical, with a tall attenuated spire and a truncated body-whorl terminated in a short broadly and shallowly notched anterior canal. Protoconch most distinctive, moderately large, paucispiral, with a blunt inrolled tip, and boldly sculptured with three spiral keels. Adult sculpture of narrowly rounded but strong axials, extending from suture to suture and over the base, overridden by crisp spiral cords. Sculpture varying between axial dominance to an even fenestration. Outer lip thin, no apertural processes. Sinus very shallow, occupying the shoulder slope. Colour buff to light reddish-brown, without maculations. Operculum rudimentary, approaching vestigial, its height about one third that of the aperture plus the canal, leaf-shaped, with a terminal nucleus. Radula a pair of marginals of the hilted dagger type, ending in a simple sharply tapered point and with an upcurved spur on one side, between the tooth proper and the hilt.

Except for the distinctive protoconch of a few strong spiral keels, and usually a much narrower shell shape, the genus is closely similar to Neoguraleus.

Recent and Pleistocene, New Zealand, including the Chathams and Auckland Islands.