The diagnostic characters are 1) cylindric-fusiform shell up to 13 mm in height. 2) protoconch conical of 3.25 convex whorls, the first smooth; subsequent whorls with fine, arcuate collabral riblets, 3) teleoconch whorls convex, unshouldered, with the periphery placed halfway between sutures, 4) body whorl gradually attenuated at the base, 5) aperture narrow, straight, 6) inner lip thin-callused, with a small parietal tubercle, 7) outer lip thin-edged, preceded by an angular varix and with weak adapical tubercle followed by 14 short spirally oriented plicae, 8) anal sinus subsutural, relatively shallow, U-shaped, with both rims directed downward, 9) sculpture of 15 slender, rounded collabral ribs and overriding fine spiral cords; whole surface with microcancellate pattern. The present species differs from the strongly related Gingicithara lyrica (Reeve, 1846) in having a slightly smaller protoconch and the periphery of the spire whorls located halfway between sutures instead of adapical to midwhorl. DISTRIBUTION AND HABITAT. Gingicithara cylindrica is distributed in the Southwest Pacific. The original material was recovered from sandy mud at 45 m depth.
FOSSIL RECORDS. None recorded.