This species is distinguished from its congeners (asellus, psittacus) by the following characters: basal pterygiophores 6-7 and anal-fin rays 9 (vs. 10-11 for both its congeners); basal pterygiophores and dorsal-fin rays 10 (vs. 11); an opercle with a posterior ventral border subdivided in a ventral and a posterior region, the herein called ‘‘inverted V’’ shape (vs. triangular opercle); differs from C. asellus by the absence of dermal flaps across the chin (vs. uniquely present in C. asellus); caudal peduncle with 8 vertebrae (Ref. 122317).