This species is the smallest of the wedgefishes (to 81 cm TL), it has also the lowest vertebral count (less than 107 centra). It is distinguished from its congeners by the following characters: a long, hastate snout; very strongly undulate anterior pectoral-fin margin; dorsal mainly dark and distinctively marked with white blotches; spots and streaks, with a dark cruciate marking on the interorbit; a prominent white border around the body margin; snout tip lacks dark blotches; absence of the black pectoral-fin marking; it is similar with the much larger Atlantic species (Rhynchobatus luebberti) with well-developed rostral spines, but these spines are confined to the snout tip (vs. being more numerous and extending in paired rows along the rostral ridges nearly to the eyes) (Ref. 109575).