Examined individuals of the species show that the test is up to 35 mm (1.4 in) in diameter, with long, curved spines.

It has large purple interambulacral regions with undulating lavender lines, while the remainder of the epithelium is coloured olive or light brown.

The purpose of the pigmentation, which is present in both the skin and skeleton, is also unknown, given the low light conditions of its habitat.

[4][5] Simon Coppard, marine biologist and member of the International Commission on Zoological Nomenclature, was directed to a listing on the site in 2004.

[5] The species was given a name fitting its unique and beautiful colouring,[4] with details about C. exquisitus first published in taxonomy journal Zootaxa on 7 August 2006.