Disc weakly rhombic with narrowly rounded apices; anterior margin of disc straight or weakly concave; snout with a small apical lobe; tail narrow-based, suboval in cross-section, tapering gently toward the sting; denticle band well developed (extending onto tail) in adults, developing relatively slowly in young; 2 enlarged heart-shaped denticles on back, preceded and followed by a row of smaller denticles of similar shape; tail usually with 1 sting and no skin folds. Dorsal surface of adults covered with small brownish spots and flecks; newborns with pattern of similar sized, closely set black spots, subadults with fine reticulate pattern; ventral surface almost entirely white.