This species is distinguished by the following set of characters:: disc large, width at anterior orbit 5.7-8.1 times mouth width; tail short, postcloacal length 97-140% of disc length; eyes relatively large, orbit diameter 7.1-9.6 in horizontal snout and 9.4-11.3 in head lengths respectively; distal portion of tail not expanded, width of tail near tip 0.7-1.1 times tail width at its midlength; pectoral-fin radials 71-75; pelvic fins moderate-sized, anterior lobe 14.8-16.2% TL; anterior pelvic-fin lobe rather broad-based, width 1.6-2.5 in distance between pelvic-fin origins; caudal fin rudimentary; tooth rows in each jaw of adults 18-22; teeth of adult males with very short cusps; monospondylous vertebral centra 27-30, total centra 155-182; dorsal surface uniformly pale pinkish brown, ventral surface pale, translucent (Ref. 75174).

Description: Sinobatis filicauda resembles S. bulbicauda morphologically and in coloration but they are easily distinguished by the shape of the posterior tail which is thin and tapering slightly in S. filicauda (width of tail near tip 0.7-1.1 times width at midlength) and expanded laterally in S. bulbicauda (width of tail near tip 1.3-2.2 times width at midlength) (Ref. 75174).