[4] The 5th edition of Fishes of the World classifies this taxon in the family Aracanidae which is in the suborder Ostracioidea within the order Tetraodontiformes.

The specific name, gymnura, means "naked tail", an allusion to the absence of any bands of bony scales on the caudal peduncle.

The colour of the males is creamy white to yellowish tan with thick dark sinuous horizontal lines and spots on the back, belly and caudal peduncle.

The females have a yellowish tan to creamy white overall colour with very small black spots along the ridges on the flanks close to the bases of the spines.

[8] Individuals collected form tide pools in southern Western Australia are presumed to have been stranded during storms.