Shells small to medium-sized, fusiform, with a pointed spire, convex whorls, marked sutures; aperture lozenge-shaped, very angular posteriorly, open anteriorly in a short anterior canal; sculpture mainly spiral (Iredalula) crossed by strong radial striae (other genera). The family is, at first, notorious for its nocturnal vampire feeding habit.
 

Shell small, similar to Colubraria by its reticulate sculpture and the presence of varices. But it is not as distorted, the varices are often aligned, and the size is smaller.