Upper surface wholly prickly, underside almost entirely prickly; orbital thorns separate, a regular row of 21-25 large thorns from nape to first dorsal fin; upper surface dark brown with a constant pattern of irregular light spots forming broad undulating transverse bands with narrower unspotted bands between, underside white, but grey on snout and broad dark margin to disc from behind midpoint of anterior margin, also blackish at tip of tail (Ref. 3167).