Description
The yellow shovelnose stingaree has an oval pectoral fin disc slightly wider than long, with the anterior margins weakly convex and converging at an obtuse angle on a fairly elongated, fleshy snout. The tip of the snout does not protrude past the disc. The eyes are medium-sized, well-spaced, and slightly elevated. The spiracles behind the eyes are comma-shaped, with the "tail" curving beneath to the level of the mid-eye; the posterior margins of the spiracles are angular. The outer rim of each nostril is enlarged into a prominent lobe. Between the nostrils is a skirt-shaped curtain of skin with a deeply fringed posterior margin that overhangs the small mouth. The lower jaw conceals the upper jaw and bears a prominent, corrugated patch of papillae (nipple-like structures). The small teeth have oval to diamond-shaped bases and are arranged in a quincunx pattern; the crowns range from pointed near the middle of the jaws to blunt at the sides. There are 19–20 upper and 22–23 lower tooth rows. The floor of the mouth bears eight or more papillae. The five pairs of gill slits are S-shaped.
The pelvic fins are roughly triangular; the males have short, thick claspers. The tail measures less than an eighth as long as the disc and is moderately flattened at the base, tapering smoothly to a lance-shaped caudal fin. There are no dorsal fins or fin folds. A single, serrated stinging spine is placed atop the tail, well behind the base. The skin is devoid of dermal denticles. The upper surface of the disc and tail are a deep, even yellow to yellowish brown in color, becoming darker on the caudal fin. The underside is white to yellowish, sometimes with darker fin margins and/or irregular dusky blotches on the belly. The largest recorded specimen is 39 cm (15 in) long.
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