A large individual, around 2m wide, photographed from afar
The world's largest stingray, this species can have a disc width of more than two metres. It has a stout body and rhomboid disc shape, with a relatively short tail armed with one, or possibly two, long venemous stings. Although it is not considered aggressive, its sting can cause severe or even fatal injuries, and care should be taken if encountered. This species is visually similar to the Black Stingray (Bathytoshia lata), which can be distinguished by the row of thorns on the base of the tail, which is also much longer than that of B. brevicaudata.