As Drillia melonesiana (= synonym):
Shell small, solid, strong, spindle-shaped, with one or two smooth nepionic and eight strongly sculptured subsequent whorls; type of an ashy brown (possibly in some cases nearly or quite black) with the sculptural prominences white; notch short, subcircular, leaving a narrow, strongly excavated fasciole separated from the suture behind it by a line of half-moon-shaped nodules, though the fasciole is so narrow and deep that at first sight it would be taken for the suture; sculpture essentially as figured, with fine interstitial spirals reticulated by the incremental lines; aperture narrow, not lirate, pillar and throat brownish. Length, 10; maximum diameter, 4 mm. A solid, richly sculptured little shell, of which the brown color may be due to fading.