Body oblong and compressed. Posterior edge of upper jaw below anterior half of eye. Middle part of caudal fin rounded, upper and lower rays slightly produced posteriorly. A longitudinal ridge running from above eye to origin of dorsal fin. Body dark brown dorsally, pale brown or white ventrally; a longitudinal ridge on head black, with a black semi-circle at anterior end; dorsal side of snout black; a black band extending from eye to posterior part of upper jaw; a black blotch above base of pectoral fin; upper half of dorsal fin dusky, below this a pale yellow band with dark patches, and along base of fin a single row of dark brown tapered patches.
Distribution:
From northern area of Gulf of Mexico to Suriname.
Remarks:
This species is closely similar to C. guppyi but differs from it by the posterior edge of the upper jaw not reaching to below the center of the eye and a black semi-circle at the anterior end of the ridge on the head. (Matsuura)