Indo-West Pacific: Red Sea and East Africa to Papua New Guinea, north to Japan, south to New South Wales, Australia.

An unmistakable guitarfish with a broad, rounded snout, large, high pectoral fins, and heavy ridges of spiky thorns over the eyes and on the back and shoulders; jaws with heavily ridged, crushing teeth in undulating rows. Grey or brownish above, white below; numerous white spots dorsally on fins, body and tail; black spots on head and shoulders but no eyespots or ocelli.

Inhabits coastal areas and on coral reefs, close inshore. Found on sand and mud bottoms. Sometimes found in the water column. Feeds mainly on bottom crustaceans and mollusks. Ovoviviparous. A row of large spines present above the eye, on the center of the nape, and on the shoulder have a defensive function (can be used for butting). Caught commonly by demersal tangle net, and occasionally trawl and longline fisheries. Difficult to handle and can damage the catch when caught in trawls.