Distinguishing characteristics of metamorphosed female: esca with a pair of elongate internally pigmented and bilaterally placed anterior appendages, less than one-tenth to greater than length of escal bulb; smaller ratio between number of upper and lower jaw teeth, 0.70-0.94; total number of teeth in upper jaw teeth 28-40, lower jaw 34-57 teeth; vomerine teeth 4-8; length of illicium 22.4-40.3% SL; escal bulb width 5.3-11.4% SL; has fewer dorsal and anal fin rays than C.ramifera, and greater number of pectoral fin rays than all other species of the genus (Ref. 86949).