Some distinguishing characteristics between the two are Z. exasperata has a disc that is equally long as wide and lacks yellow eyespots found on Z. xyster.

[5] Z. exasperata are mainly caught in commercial and artisanal gillnet fisheries in Mexican waters especially the Gulf of California, Mexico.

[2] Banded guitarfish are a high trophic level species, being a top predator in benthic communities on coastal rocky reefs.

[12] Daisy midshipman uses the same rocky reef habitat and time for reproduction making it an abundant food source for banded guitarfish.

[14][15] Gestation is thought to be 3–4 months followed by birth in shallow, sandy bays in late July or early August when the temperatures are the warmest.

[9][15] Banded guitarfish have a low population growth because they produce small amounts of offspring per cycle that mature slow.

There is a known sexual segregation in Baja California Sur, Mexico, where females are found in shallow areas for birth but males are not.

[14] In the Gulf of California, banded guitarfish also undergo embryonic diapause, so babies are still born in July or early August.