This genus is characterized by shells of medium size (to 35 mm) with a large bulbous protoconch and a columella without folds (teeth). Shells are thin and fragile with deep sutures and have a protoconch that is large, smooth and mamillate of 1.5 to 2.5 whorls. The teleoconch has 4 to 8 convex to slightly-convex whorls that are smooth or sculptured with punctate spiral striae. Spiral cords are flat. There are faint to fairly prominent axial riblets. The aperture is shorter than the spire. The outer lip is thin, convex and simple. The columella is thinly callused without spiral folds. The periostracum is yellow-brown. The radula is somewhat similar to Mitra with much fewer teeth. All known species are found living at depths of 130 to 700 fathoms (238 - 1280 meters). One dead, broken specimen of C. veneris was collected at 80 fathoms (146 meters). All are known only from the area off South Africa.

Shell up to 35 mm (about 1,5 inches) in length, fusiformly-elongate or elongate-ovate, thin and fragile, sutures narrow and deeply incised; teleoconch of 4,5-8 convex whorls, protoconch large, smooth and mamillate and consisting of 1,5-2,5 nuclear whorls. Moderately smooth or sculptured with punctate spiral striae, flat cords or axial riblets. Aperture moderately narrow, shorter than the spire, smooth within, outer lip thin, convex ami simple, columella thinly calloused and completely without folds; siphonal canal straight or recurved, siphonal notch distinct or shallow. Colour of shell, pale yellow or fawn under a yellowish or yellowish-brown periostracum.
This is the only mitrid genus with a large, mamillate protoconch and a plaitless columella. Thiele (1925) described new species of Charitodoron in the genus Columbella and Tomlin (1932) erected the genus Charitodoron which he assigned to the family Buccinidae on conchological grounds. Barnard (I960), examined the radula of Charitodoron thalia Tomlin, and found the radula to be mitrine; in addition, the animal is said to lack eyes. Charitodoron contains only 3 species which are confined to deep water in South Africa.