描述Small newt, with a total maximum length of 7-9 cm. Head shape oval in dorsal view. Snout truncate, projects slightly beyond mandible. Nostril on snout tip; eye large. Labial fold well developed. Inconspicuous longitudinal ridge posterior to each eye. Skull relatively narrow. Parotoid gland poorly developed. Gular fold usually absent. Skin finely granulated, venter and underside of limbs smooth. Vertebral ridge elevated and conspicuous. Four fingers and five toes, no webbing. Tail laterally compressed, tapers posteriorly; caudal fin distinct; tail tip bluntly pointed in female, rounded in male (Wu et al. 2010).
Male smaller than female; the tail is shorter in the male than in the female. In the reproductive season, males have a wider and more swollen cloaca (Wu et al. 2010).
Colour is dark-brown to lighter brown above; obscure black flecks on head and back. Vertebral ridge dark orange. Ventral colour ranges from yellowish orange to reddish orange. Number and position of ventral black dots vary among individuals; some specimens have black dots on the chin. The holotype has an orange dot on dorsal side of forelimb base, which is not present in all individuals; base of first digits of forelimbs and hind limbs light orange. Orange red on cloaca, continuing to underside of tail. Posterior limit of cloaca may be black (Wu et al. 2010).
Diagnosis:
Similar to C. orientalis and C. orphicus but differs both genetically and morphologically from these species. Morphologically it is distinct in having a proportionately shorter trunk, longer tail, longer head and longer limbs than C. orientalis. It resembles C. orphicus morphologically in having finely granulated skin, a conspicuous vertebral ridge, and black spots on the tail, but has a proportionately larger head, longer limbs and shorter trunk than C. orphicus. Venter and chin bright orange without dark blotches, but a few small black dots may be present; two dark ventral spots on the shoulder and axilla of each side, but spots from opposite sides do not connect at the midline; transverse black gular stripe absent; irregular spots on tail (Wu et al. 2010).