Diagnosis: A large Dasyatis species most closely related to the much smaller Dasyatis margaritella and to the extremely flat D. garouaensis (Ref. 26277). Pearl spines always present and very large; denticles on dorsal surface of disc smooth, restricted to middle portion (Ref. 26277).

Description: Disc oval, moderately flat, its medial lobe broad-based and moderately exserted, its anterolateral margin somewhat concave; disc depth 13.0-14.5% of disc width, disc width 0.9-1.1 times disc length (Ref. 26277). Snout moderately long, protruding but not pointed (Ref. 26277, 81259). Eyes rather small, spiracles slightly larger than eyes, nasal curtain posteriorly fringed and a deep groove extends from nasal flap to and around mouth corners (Ref. 81625). Jaws strongly undulate, with 24-32/28-36 tooth rows arranged in a pavement pattern, and five finger-like mouth papillae (Ref. 7397, 81259, 81625). Pelvic fins projecting slightly from posterior disc margin (Ref. 81625). Total number of pectoral radials 129-136 (Ref. 7367, 81625). Middle third of disc covered with small, circular, flat denticles and tail covered with small prickles; no enlarged thorns on disc or tail (Ref. 26277, 81259). Tail long, whip-like behind the sting, broad-based and oval in cross-section, with a dorsal ridge behind the sting and a moderately high ventral fold; tail whip covered with fine dermal denticles (Ref. 81259, 81625).

Colouration: Dorsal side uniformly brownish to greyish-brown, without spots or prominent markings; ventral side pale or whitish with more or less dark pectoral margins (Ref. 26277, 81259, 81625).