 The tail is moderately short and does not have large, thorn-like structures called dermal denticles that are normally found on skates.This lack of denticles distinguishes it from all but two species of skates found in the western Atlantic.Larger individuals do have three rows of smaller denticles on the tail, and mature females also possess denticles on the head and shoulders, and along the dorsal midbelt of the disk and tail.