There are two species, both endemic to Australia, found over soft bottoms on the outer continental shelves and upper continental slopes,[1] at depths of 50–200 m for the southern round skate and 142–209 m for the western round skate.

[2] Both species are unique amongst Australian skates in having a smooth, almost circular heart-shaped pectoral fin disc.

The head is short, with a small fleshy process at the tip of the snout and large spiracles behind the eyes.

The teeth are sexually dimorphic; those of adult males are spear-shaped with long, sharp cusps, while those of females and juveniles are plate-like with short posterior cusps.

The tail is narrow, tapering gradually to a very slender tip and bearing two small dorsal fins near the end.