Medium-sized to moderately large, 40 - 80 mm, moderately solid to solid. Last whorl usually narrowly conoid-cylindrical to conoid-cylindrical in C. a. paulucciae also narrowly cylindrical to cylindrical, ventricosely conical or ovate in C. a. aureus. In C. a. paulucciae, outline of last whorl convex at adapical fourth, almost straight below; in C. a. aureus, outline convex to almost straight and parallel-sided at adapical two-thirds, concave at left side below. Aperture somewhat wider at base than near shoulder. Shoulder angulate to rounded, usually more angulate in C. a. aureus. Spire of moderate height, outline straight. Larval shell of 2.5-3 whorls and maximum diameter 0.75-0.9 mm in C. a. aureus, of about 3 whorls and with a maximum diameter of 0.8-0.9 mm in C. a. paulucciae. First 4-6 postnuclear whorls tuberculate. Teleoconch sutural ramps flat to slightly concave, with 0-2 increasing to 4-10 weak spiral grooves; additional spiral striae on latest ramps. Last whorl with closely spaced, granulose to smooth spiral ribs from base to shoulder, sometimes weak to obsolete toward shoulder; in C. a. paulucciae, ribs usually smooth and generally obsolete above centre.
Ground colour white, often suffused with pink in C. a. paulucciae. Last whorl with a network of fine light to dark brown lines and yellowish brown blotches. Lines forming zones of many liny to small and a few larger tents, arranged in 3-5 axial and 3 interrupted spiral bands, below shoulder and center and at base. Blotches grouped in 2 broad and often some additional narrow spiral bands, interspersed with broad blackish brown axial lines. Larval whorls and first 2.5-4 postnuclear sutural ramps immaculate white in C. a. aureus; in C. a. paulucciae, apex cream to pink, larval shell and about first 2.5 postnuclear sutural ramps immaculate. Following sutural ramps matching last whorl in colour pattern. Aperture white in C. a. aureus, white to light pink in C. a. paulucciae.
Periostracum pale brown, thin, translucent, smooth. In C. a. aureus, animal mottled light and darker brown (Richards, pers. comm., 1989).
Radular teeth with 2 opposed barbs adapically; serration present, basal spur absent (James, 1980).

C. a. aureus resembles C. auricomus, and C. a. paulucciae is similar to C. legatus. C. a. aureus has a W. and Central Pacific distribution, while C. a. paulucciae is restricted to the Indian Ocean. Intermediate specimens (shape, sculpture, apex colour) are known from the Indian Ocean and from Philippines. The conchological differences between C. aureus and C. paulucciae are often considered to justify separation at the species level (e.g. Richard, 1990). With regard to the generally disjunct geographical ranges, the different bathymetricai ranges, and to the intermediate shells, we favour the status of geographical subspecies.

Japan and Philippines to Queensland and New Caledonia and to Tuamotu Archipelago.