This species can be easily distinguished from its congeners in having the following characters: 1 or 2 elongate illicial filaments originating laterally just below base of escal bulb (vs. C. ramifera with 7-12 on each side; descending escal appendage extending along anterior margin of illicium, a small proximal portion emerging at articulation of illicium and illicial pterygiophores as a free, anterodorsally directed tentacle; short illicium, 21.1-22.9% SL; greater number of dorsal- and anal-fin rays, 8 and 6, respectively (Ref. 75756).