The common name of this species comes from its Latin name caputdraconis, meaning "the head of the dragon".

The shell reaches about 15–40 millimetres (0.59–1.57 in) in length.

The basic color of the shell is uniformly brown on its edge, with many yellowish small spots on the top of the dorsum.

This endemic species is found in the sea along Easter Island and Sala y Gomez Island, where it replaces the similar Monetaria caputserpentis.

It is mainly encountered under coral rocks in the intertidal reef.