Shell fusiform (b/1 0.26-0.28, a/1 0.43-0.45), with long, tapering siphonal canal, inclined to the left, with a slight fasciole. Interior of aperture with 11-14 spiral ridges. Anal sinus relatively shallow, parallel-sided; outer lip in side-view rounded and opisthocline, stromboid notch ill-defined. Suture shallow, subsutural region relatively wide, subsutural cord very low to flattened and ill-defined, bearing 3 moderately angular ridges, the sutural one weakest, anterior one strongest. Sulcus ill-defined, very shallowly and slopingly concave, containing 2-3 spiral threads. Sinus cord strongest and forming a very slight shoulder, although not peripheral, wide and slightly concave-topped, crenulated on early whorls. Base of spire whorls bearing 3-4 unequal narrow spiral cords, all asymmetrically angular, uppermost cord strongest, forming periphery; intervals 2-3 times width of cords and filled with 3-5 thin but well-developed spiral threads. Base of last whorl with 16-18 angular, well-spaced spiral ridges, with a weaker one in each interval, plus 8-16 (sometimes weak) threads on rostrum. Collabral threads strong and dense, rendering intermediary sculpture more or less cancellate, coarser ones pliculate, those immediately below sinus cord very strongly, almost spirally inclined. White, main cords occasionally with inconspicuous, pale brown flecks. When fresh with traces of dull olive-brown periostracum in interstices. Protoconch missing in all types.
Dimensions: 82.1 x 22.4 mm (holotype); largest paratype 91.4 x 23.8 mm.

Turris intercancellata differs from other members of the Turns crispa complex in all or most of the following characters: siphonal canal shorter and broader (resembling T. bipartita in this character), collabral sculpture strong but simple, instead of lamellar and crinkled, rendering the cord intervals more or less obliquely cancellate; subsutural cord barely developed; main cords lack secondary spiral threads; cords on base of spire
whorls relatively weak and widely-spaced; colour pattern absent or consisting of faint dots. In general sculpture this species resembles the form of T. bipartita described as Pleurotoma indica Deshayes, 1833, but the latter differs markedly in proportions and has a pronounced fasciole, which is absent in T. intercancellata.
A large quantity of specimens of this species was found in a box in a dealer's warehouse in Tuticorin; according to the dealer, this sample was trawled west of Cape Comorin.

West of Cape Comorin, Kerala, S. W. India, 300-400 m.