Description

Body design 

The body is dark grey brown dorsally and pale grey over the lower two thirds of the body. The dorsal region may be uniformly dark or this may change to a series of white saddles, the tops of the eye surrounds also becoming white. The most distinctive feature is a series of iridescent blue spots arranged along the body in ten rows of four marking broken vertical bars. 

Fin design 

The fins are fairly drab brown. The first dorsal fin has a blue tinge anteriorly. The second dorsal fin has a series of darker brown squares between the rays. The pectoral fin is translucent. The pelvic fin is opaque white with a mixed red and blue reflection. The pelvic fin is more solidly coloured in off white with a blue tinge getting brighter posteriorly. The anal fin is pale grey getting darker and more translucent distally. The caudal fin is uniformly grey. 

Diagnostic features

The bright blue spots along the body are the most striking feature together with the white saddles and eyebrows when highlighted. 

Similar species

This species is similar to C cinctus but the markings are distinctively different. C leucostictus has more extensive white saddles and no blue spots. C caeruleomaculatus is quite different, despite the name. 

Etymology

The specific name cyanospilotus is from Latin and means ‘blue-spotted’, in reference to the diagnostic feature of the colour pattern.