Rhinopias cea was first formally described in 1997 by the American biologists John E. Randall and Louis Henry DiSalvo Chalfant with the type locality is given as Motu Iti, Easter Island.

[3] The specific name honours the Chilean physician, SCUBA diver, photographer, filmmaker and spearfisherman Alfredo Cea Egaña in recognition of his contribution to the authors knowledge of the fishes of Easter Island.

The overall colour is reddish brown but differs from R. argoliba in being more mottled and in not possessing the white teardrop shaped mark between the eye and the rear end of the upper jaw.

[5] There is a pair of obvious dark blotches on the body above the pectoral fin.

[1] Rhinopias cea is little known as there are only two recorded sightings and the IUCN classify it as Data Deficient.