Shell small for the genus, elongate. Spire high, consisting of 2 nuclear whorls and 6 teleoconch whorls. Protoconch rounded and glossy. Teleoconch whorls elongate and convex. Suture impressed. Last whorl bearing 3 slightly frondose varices ornamented with 3 major frondose open and short spines; occasional presence of a small intermediate spinelet. Shoulder and anterior spine largest, medium spine narrower and shorter. Intervarical axial sculpture consisting of 2, rarely 3, elongate nodes. Spiral sculpture of numerous scabrous cords and threads. Aperture roundly-ovate. Columellar lip narrow and smooth, adherent to the shell but slightly detached anteriorly. Anal notch large and shallow, outer apertural lip slightly erect and crenulate, briefly striate inside. Siphonal canal long and slender, narrowly open, slightly bent backwards; ornamented with a short acute spine at the middle, preceded by 2 or 3 short spinelets and bearing occasionally an additional short, open spinelet, almost situated at the tip of the siphonal canal. Colour bluish-white to light brown with darker coloured spines. Size up to 29 mm in length.

This new species may be compared with Chicoreus boucheti Houart, 1983, which is now known from several specimens that agree well with the holotype, and from which C. paucifrondosus differs in being more elongate with shallower axial sculpture and shorter, somewhat palmate spines; the protoconch is more elongate, not subcarinate and ending with a different terminal varix, being rounded and not angulate like in C. boucheti; the columellar lip is narrower and the shell is smaller although having one additional teleoconch whorl.