Description
The greenback stingaree has a diamond-shaped pectoral fin disc wider than long, with broadly rounded outer corners. The leading margins of the disc are nearly straight, and converge at an obtuse angle on the fleshy snout. The tip of the snout protrudes slightly past the disc. The eyes are large and followed by comma-shaped spiracles with rounded posterior margins. There is a skirt-shaped curtain of skin between the nostrils, with a finely fringed posterior margin; the posterior corners of the nasal curtain are extended into small lobes. The medium-sized mouth contains 4–7 variably shaped papillae (nipple-like structures) on the floor; additional papillae are found in a narrow strip on the lower jaw. The teeth are small with roughly oval bases, and the five pairs of gill slits are short. The pelvic fins are small and rounded on their trailing margins.
The tail is flattened at the base and measures 75–91% as long as the disc; a prominent skin fold runs along each side, and a deep, lance-shaped caudal fin is found at the end. The upper surface of the tail bears a serrated stinging spine about halfway along its length; there is no dorsal fin. The skin entirely lacks dermal denticles. This species is a plain light green above, becoming lighter towards the edge of the disc, and off-white below, becoming purplish or pinkish towards the lateral margins of the disc; the ventral, lateral disc margins may also have a dark brown edge or blotches. The caudal fin is colored dark brown in juveniles and olive in adults. Some individuals are dark beneath the tail and/or on the tip of the snout. The maximum recorded length is 51 cm (20 in).
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