This species is distinguished from C. marulius, C. aurolineata, C. auroflammea by having fewer vertebrae 56 (vs. 59-63 in marulius; 63-66 in aurolineata; 58-61 in auroflammea); fewer lateral-line scales 59-62 (vs. 62-65 in marulius; 65-71 in aurolineata; 61-65 in auroflammea); fewer dorsal-fin rays 47-48 (vs. 50-56 in marulius; 55-58 in aurolineata; 52-54 in auroflammea); and fewer anal-fin rays 29-30 (vs. 32-37 in marulius; 35-38 in aurolineata; 33-36 in auroflammea); distinguished from aurolineata and C. marulioides by the white spots along mid-lateral blotches faint or absent (vs, series of black scales rimmed in white along the mid-lateral dark blotches) in live adults; differs to South Indian C. pseudomarulius, by having more vertebrae 56 (vs. 55) and having more circumpeduncular scales 26-28 (vs. 24); differs C. cf. ara from the southwestern wet zone of Sri Lanka by having more circumpeduncular scales 26-28 (vs. 22-24); by the absence or faintness of the numerous large white spots along the mid-lateral dark blotches (vs. presence of spots in C. cf. ara) and by bright orange colouration in between the mid-lateral series of dark brown blotches when alive (vs white to yellow colouration)(Ref. 127648).