This species which is a member of the C. fimbriatus-species group is distinguished from its congeners by its dense covering of minute grayish-green irregular spots, five large blackish dorsal markings and by the following characters: modally 14 pectoral-fin rays; bridging each neuromast are 3-4 pairs of spinules; second gill arch with 8-9 rakers; long and slender illicium; elongate illicial trough which is longer than wide; esca with numerous thin pale cirri with brown tips; pale gill chamber with large blackish patch on inner wall of opercle; pale peritoneal membrane; lateral-line neuromast counts: anterior body proper = 3-5 (mainly 4), upper preopercular = 2-3 (2), infraorbital = 5-7 (6), hyomandibular = 3-4 (3), pectoral = 10-12 (10 or 11), body proper = 29-35 (Ref. 94130).