This species is distinguished from its congeners by a set of characteristics: from C. braueri by the teeth on second ceratobranchial absent (vs. present) and supraorbital canal pores 7 (vs. 8); from C. harteli by total vertebrae 43-45 (vs. 47-48), supraorbital canal pores 7 (vs. six); from C. microcephalus by teeth on basibranchials well developed, 3-18, always present on second basibranchial and often on third basibranchial and second hypobranchial (vs. usually no teeth on basibranchials, rarely 1-3, small, restricted to second basibranchial); from C. pluriradiatus and C. asper, by pectoral-fin rays 13-14 (vs. 15-16), tiny dermal spinules on body of specimens larger than 45.0 mm absent (vs. with spinules), fang in premaxillary head 1 (vs. 2), and supraorbital pores 7 (vs. 8 and 9, respectively) and from C. pluriradiatus by lateral-line pores 86-93 (vs. 91-94); from C. subniger, by teeth on second basibranchial present (vs. none), infraorbital pores 14 (vs. 12-13, modally 13), snout elongate and pointed, 22.2-26.6% HL (vs. snout short and blunt, 21.4-23.9% HL), upper jaw 72.2-80.0% HL (vs. 63.9-72.7% HL), and lower jaw 80.0-86.7% HL (vs. 69.0-76.7% HL) (Ref. 82429).

Description: D1 X-XII, D2 ii-iv + 21-23; A iv-v + 20-23.