Shell small, fusiform, 7 whorled; nucleus of 3 dome-shaped helicoid whorls, the first 2 smooth, the third with about 30 axial riblets; the last ½ of the third nuclear whorl rendered faintly cancellate by 4 to 5 distant spiral threads; axial sculpture of postnuclear whorls of rather strong antisigmoid ribs which number about 17 on the penult and from 15-20 much weaker ribs on the body whorl; the ribs of the body whorl are not angled, while the ribs of the other whorls are slightly angled at the periphery on an occasional specimen; spiral sculpture of about 15 fine threads, which increase to about 40 on the body whorl; suture distinct; aperture ovate; anterior canal very short; outer lip thin, smooth within, columella smooth and curved sigmoidally; anal sinus exceedingly shallow; color buff with a subsutural pale brown band and 2 wider brown bands on the last whorl; columella stained with brown. Dimensions of holotype: height 5.1 mm, diameter 2.0 mm.

Kurtziella powelli is quite different from other Kurtziella species from the same province. It has more than double the number of axial ribs and spiral threads of the species described to date. The ribs are not angled on the body whorl and only slightly so on the other whorls and then only in some specimens.

Pacific Mexico. Agua de Chale, Baja California.