Sharpnose Stingray

The pectoral fin disc of T. acutirostra is about as wide as it is long, with rounded outer margins and concave leading margins merging with a long, triangular snout. The eyes are small and followed by larger spiracles. There is a curtain of skin between the nares, with a fringed, straight posterior margin. The mouth is slightly curved and lacks papillae on the floor. There are 40–51 upper tooth rows and 39–49 lower tooth rows, arranged with a quincunx pattern into pavement-like surfaces. The teeth of adult males have pointed cusps unlike in juveniles and females. The pelvic fins are wide and triangular. The tail is whip-like and longer than the disc, and bears 1-2 stinging spines on the upper surface. A subtle dorsal keel and low ventral fin fold are present behind the spine. There is a row of 30 tubercles along the midline of the back, and another row of 16 tubercles in front of the spine. The tail behind the spine is covered by small denticles. The coloration is light brown above and white below. The largest known specimen has a disc width of 72.5 cm (28.5 in). This species can be distinguished from the similar T. zugei by a larger eyeball size, the absence of a dorsal fin fold on the tail, a larger maturation size, and various meristic characters.

Telatrygon acutirostra is known from off southern Japan and in the East China Sea at a depth of 53–142 m (174–466 ft), though there is also a possible record of this species from the Gulf of Guayaquil off Ecuador. Like most other stingrays this species is benthic in nature.

Virtually nothing is known of the natural history of T. acutirostra. One male specimen 35.4 cm (13.9 in) was immature, while another 72.5 cm (28.5 in) across was mature. It is presumably aplacental viviparous like other stingrays.