The test is subcircular and has moderately broad, straight edged, naked median interambulacral regions. These continue three quarters of the way from the genital plates to the ambitus (in adults), to the ambitus in juveniles, and are purple, with undulating lilac lines. These naked median regions have dark red borders. However, on the naked test these are not always clearly defined, as the test is predominantly red, with the exception of the white/cream primary tubercles. Primary spines are curved, and are red or orange distally (on the dorsal surface) with a faint banding pattern, blending into green proximally, typically just above the spine's collar. The collar's dorsal surface is smooth either side of the central dorsal ridge, longitudinal ridges are present ventrally. Secondary spines are pointed (not club-shaped). Ophicephalous pedicellariae are abundant both orally and aborally; the valves having distal regions slightly longer than the proximal regions. These valves are slightly constricted aborally, but are unconstricted orally.
The markings on the naked median regions of the interambulacra are similar to C. exquisitus both in colour and in the fact that they are sharply limited. However, they are distinctly narrower comprising only 48 % of the width of the ambulacra measured above the ambitus (65 % in C. exquisitus). These species are easily differentiated by the basal colour of the test, by the width of the peristome (significantly wider in C. exquisitus) and by the colour and markings on the primary spines.
Macclesfield Bank, South China Sea; Sagami Bay, Japan.
