The prickly shark Echinorhinus cookei has thorn-like denticles on body which are moderately large (single denticles up to about 4mm in basal diameter in adults), numerous, regularly distributed, with scalloped basal margins, and never fused into compound plates. Grayish brown in color, with black distal fin margins; white around mouth and on ventral surface of snout. Tooth count 21-23/20-22. Total vertebrae 89; precaudal 59. As with the other member of the family Echinorhinidae, it has a relatively short snout and stout body; two small spineless dorsal fins, close together, towards posterior part of body and originating behind pelvic fin origin. No anal fin and subterminal notch on caudal fin. Small spiracles, very short labial furrows and teeth on both jaws alike, with a central oblique bladelike cusps with up to 3 cusplets on each side (absent in juveniles) (Ref. 247, 6871).