This species, belonging to the C. oxycephala group is distinguished by the following set of characters: D XIII,11; A II,11–12 (usually 11); pectoral-fin rays 14–15 (usually 15); gill rakers on first branchial arch 8-10 + 19-21 = 28-31; tubed lateral-line scales 12-16 (usually 14-16); preorbital + suborbital scales 2-11 (mean 7.6). Colour of small juveniles when alive pale green with yellowish suffusion and broad zone of turquoise blue covering the forehead and dorsal snout while adults are mainly pale yellow grading to pale gray ventrally with numerous small blue or greenish spots on head, body, and basal portion of dorsal, anal, and caudal fins (Ref. 119675).