With large eyes, nostrils, and tooth plates, the head gives them a rabbit-like appearance, hence the nickname "Rabbit fish".

It characteristically has a large head and a tapering body that ends in its whip-like tail, and has a short snout with an overhanging mouth.

The top dorsal fin is positioned high on the spine of the fish, and is triangular and tall in height.

[3] The geographic habitat of the fish has been registered around the Mediterranean Sea and the Eastern parts of the Atlantic Ocean.

Larger individuals (more than 46 cm or 18 inches) had a narrow diet spectrum, consuming mainly decapods.

Conditioned by predator size group, significant differences in diet were observed between geographical areas and depths.

[5] For reproduction, C. monstrosa displays a small club like structure with a bulbous tip armed with numerous sharp denticles located on the top of the head.

Due to its high levels of lipids, the species has gained interest in fisheries for its liver oils to manufacture dietary supplements.