In Acinolaemus one or more of the paratal, basal and columellar teeth are developed as sharp thorn that point toward the aperture, although this feature is repeated in some species of closely related genera. The last whorl is constricted behind the aperture in the region of the internal dentition. the genus also is characterized by having a minute, yellowish turban-shaped shell with a nearly straight-sided spire, although these features are not unique to the genus. The last whorl regularly descends or is deflected upward.