Its normal size is about 0.9-1 m in length. The swell shark has a stout body, a flat, broad head, a short snout, and large mouth, which contains 55-60 teeth in both the upper and lower jaw. The large oval-shaped eyes have a nictitating membrane on the lower eyelids. The gill slits of the swell shark are quite small. The first dorsal fin is situated toward the posterior end of the body behind the origins of the pelvic fins. They are yellow-brown in color with dark splotches and white spots on the dorsal and ventral side. Juveniles are typically lighter in color.