This species is distinguished from its congeners in the North Pacific by the following set of characters: broad rows of trilobed teeth on both the premaxilla and dentary; two chin pores in a single pit; low counts of median-fin rays, Dl 40-42, A 33-37 and vertebrae 44-46; and a moderately large pelvic disc, 33.3–47.9% HL; further differs by the pale peritoneum and stomach, and brick red body with golden slash along the anterior side of body; differs C. nelsoni by having two chin pores in a single pit (vs. two separate pores in C. nelsoni), a longer head 27.0-30.0 % SL (vs. 24.6–27.4 % SL), more pectoral-fin rays 36-44 \9vs. 32-37), and a distinct coloration in life, uniform red with scattered white speckles and a golden lateral slash (vs. no pale saddle across nape and golden slash); differs from C. mollis and C. sinensis by having fewer counts of the dorsal-fin rays 40-42 (vs. 53 in both species), anal-fin rays 33–37 (vs. 47), and vertebrae 44-46 (vs. 58-59), but a greater number of pectoral-fin rays 36-44 (vs. 33-35), and a larger pelvic disc 33.3-47.9 (vs. ca. 28 % HL) (Ref. 129450).