Disc very thick, oval to subcircular with broadly rounded apices; snout short, obtuse, tip with short lobe; tail short, slender, about equal to disc length, almost cylindrical in cross-section; upper mid-disc and tail extremely rough and prickly, densely covered with a broad band of flat, plate-like denticles, interspersed with fewer, taller upright thorns in adults; outer disc with fewer denticles but similar coverage of upright thorns; caudal stings and skin folds absent. Body colour is disc light grey, yellowish or whitish above, thorns often paler; white below; posterior half of tail blackish.