[2] The first tissue sample was collected in 1999 by scientists funded by the American National Science Foundation, who were researching fish tapeworms.

[3] Mumburarr, meaning 'stingray', was chosen to recognise the assistance of native traditional landowowners in locating specimens.

It lacks the white flecks on the upper (dorsal) surface and black margin on the lower (ventral) disc that are seen in the mangrove whipray.

[1]: 164  Unlike other species in the genus, the mumburarr and mangrove whiprays have tails that are uniformly white past the sting, contrasting with their body colour.

[1]: 165, 173–174 The species inhabits marine and brackish estuarine waters in northern Australia and southern Papua, at depths of 2 to 60 m. It has been found in the Arafura Sea off the Wessel Islands, in rivers of Kakadu National Park in Northern Territory, in the Cambridge Gulf and Ord River in Western Australia, and in the Gulf of Papua.