C. gorillae are box-jellies with many pale yellow tentacles arising from a single stalk at each lower corner of the bell, which is generally fist-sized or larger. The umbrella is fairly rigid and transparent, not granular, with a number of brown vertical stripes. Rather uncommon, this deeper water species may be caught in trawl nets and has been recorded stranded. The sting of this species is not known to be fatal, but this is most likely due to its rarity.