cf. is the abbreviation for the imperative singular form of the Latin word confer. In English it commonly is read aloud as `compare`. Its meaning in that context is `consult`, and the intention is to draw attention to other material or ideas that may provide either similar or contrasting arguments or information. Another abbreviation, equivale...
Cf. is an abbreviation for compare or compare with. 
confer
[adv] - compare (used in texts to point the reader to another location in the text)
confer; cf. Compare, refer to. The element cf. means 'refer to'. The abbreviation is most often seen in English writing. It may be used, for example, to invite readers to compare an author's discussion with that presented in another work, but the important fact to bear in mind is that cf. does not merely mean 'see' or 'see also'. The full Latin w...
cf adverb compare (used in texts to point the reader to another location in the text)
(lat. confer, compare, consult) indicates that a species needs to be seen in context of its comparison to another, but by definition is not confirmed as the same