This species is distinguished from C. marulius by a different colour pattern, in which a conspicuous white posterior margin is present on the black scales that form the dark lateral blotches in larger juveniles and adults (vs. scales without white margin but with white spots in C. marulius); by having more lateral line scales 65-71 (vs 62-65); more dorsal-fin rays 55-58 (vs 52-56); more vertebrae 63-66 (vs 59-63). In addition, this apecies is genetically more than 8% different (uncorrected p-distance) from C. marulius at the COI barcoding gene, a difference consistent with levels of genetic divergence observed among different species. The same characters that distinguish this species from C. marulius also distinguish it from C. pseudomarulius, the other Indian member of the Marulius group (Ref. 130878)