Body depth less than head length, depth contained 2.6 to 3.0 times in standard length (for fish 16 to 22,cm standard length). Head length contained 2.4 to 2.6 times in standard length; interorbital area slightly convex, the width equal to orbit diameter on a fish of 19 cm standard length: preopercle rounded, finely serrate posteriorly, the lower edge more coarsely serrate: subopercle and interopercle also completely serrate; maxilla with a few scales, reaching well past eye. Gill rakers 7 or 8 on upper limb, 14 or 15 on lower limb. Dorsal fin with IX spines and 14 or 15 rays; anal fin with III spines and 9 rays; pectoral-fin rays 16 to 18; pectoral-fin length contained 1.4 to 1.6 times in head length: pelvic fins reach about to anus, their length contained 1.6 to 2.0 in head length; caudai fin rounded. Lateral-body scales ctenoid, without auxiliary scales; lateral-line scales 58 to 71; lateral-scale series 103 to 123.
Colour: Orange-red, with widely scattered, small pale blue spots on head, body, and fins; soft dorsal, anal, and caudal fins usually with a narrow pale blue margin.

Known only from the Red Sea, from Eilat in the Gulf of Aqaba to the Farasan Islands off the southern end of Saudi Arabia.

C. oligosticta seems to prefer a dead reef habitat with silty bottom in depths of 20 to 50 m. Randall and Ben-Tuvia (1983) reported ripe females of 17 and 19 cm standard length and a mature male of 22 cm standard length.

Maximum total length at least 30 cm.

This species is probably most closely related to C. miniata, which has more numerous blue spots, fewer lateral-line scales (47 to 56), ventral margin of preopercle smooth and covered by skin, and usually shorter pelvic fins (1.9 to 2.3 times in head length). Both species may be found at the same locality in the Red Sea (e.g., Eilat), but they occur in different habitats.