Dall (1900:65) originally published the species as coming from "Long or Berry Island," but subsequently (Dall, 1905:40) changed the type locality to Rum Cay, noting that "locality corrected by Stevenson in letter on file in archives."
Clench (1937:23) later confirmed the correct locality and confined the type locality to: Wemyss, 7 miles SE of Simms, Long Island, Bahamas.
Dall (1900) noted "The entire absence of the axial fold is notable" and regarded this species to be "related to the group of C. scalarinum Pfr., called Umbonis by Maynard." Clench (1934) considered it to be related to C. felis P & V.
This species, as presently understood, is limited to a 5 km portion along the northeastern coast of Long Island. Populations are patchy with considerable variation between populations.
Clench (1940:12) regarded this taxon to belong to the Group of Cerion scalarinum.