Unmistakably a guitarfish, it has a broad, rounded snout, huge, high pectoral fins, thick ridges of spiky thorns over the eyes, on the back and shoulders, and rows of crushing teeth in the jaws that are strongly ridged and arranged in an undulating pattern. Black dots on the head and shoulders, but no eyespots or ocelli; numerous white spots dorsally on the fins, body, and tail. Grey to brownish above, white below.