Bleeker (1857) first described CUnus xanthosoma from Java. Later Gunther (1861), Herre (1936, 1939, 1953) and de Beaufort (1951) described it as Cristiceps xanthosoma from East Indies and Philippines. Day (1888) recorded a new clinid fish Cristiceps halei from Colombo. Since' Day (1889) C. halei has' not been recorded and the type specimen of the species is also not traceable
