This species with a heavy shark-like body is distinguished by the following: head somewhat flattened; snout tip broadly rounded to somewhat quadrangular; tail with a dermal fold along each lower edge; large and falcate dorsal fins 2; caudal fin with distinct upper and lower lobes; conspicuous dermal folds 2 on posterior margin of spiracles; nostrils are very large and

oblique, and are separated from each other and from the mouth; anterior nasal flap is small (not extending to inner nostril corner); jaws moderately undulated; with about 66/72 rows of oral teeth arranged in pavement; a row of pointed thorns along each rostral ridge, 2/3 additional thorns may occur on snout tip; a single row of thornlets and thorns in front of orbit extending backward to level of spiracles; a median row of about 36 large, pointed thorns from the nape to

first dorsal fin and 6 between dorsal fins, median thorns flanked by two other shorter rows on the nape-shoulder area, additional short rows of thorns may be present on the outer shoulders; body covered with small dermal denticles, the crowns with a median posterior cusp, an extension from the median ridge, and short lateral cusp; dorsal side greyish to greenish with numerous white ocelli-like spots; a large black transverse blotch on ventral snout tip (Ref. 109576). Resembles Rhynchobatus lubberti in having a similar colour pattern, but differs in having a more broadly rounded snout (similar to that of the shark-ray Rhina ancylostoma (Ref. 109576).