The anal fin has an in distinct dusky band in its centre on a pearly white background colour.

It is absent from much of the Caribbean but occurs along the northern coast of South America from Venezuela to Rio de Janeiro.

[1] Caulolatilus chrysops is found near the bottom, at depths from 90 to 131 m (295 to 430 ft), where it has been recorded on a substrate consisting of a rubble of shell and coral fragments.

[7] The specific name chrysops means gold-eye and refers to the Golden yellow stripe between the eye and mouth.

Tilefish are a quarry for the deep-water fishery of Puerto Rico which uses bottom lines and fish traps to take them.

Tilefishes are targeted by commercial and sports fisheries in the southeastern United States and the Gulf of Mexico.