Rhizomes erect, moderately stout, scaly at apex; scales dark brown, narrowly lanceolate, fibriform-tipped. Fronds caespitose; fertile fronds ca. 60 cm; stipe purplish red, slightly shiny, 15-50 cm; lamina 2-pinnate, ovate, 20-40 × 15-25 cm, base rounded-truncate, apex slightly abruptly narrowed; pinnae 8-10 pairs, basal 1 or 2 pairs of pinnae subopposite, spreading; upper pinnae alternate, oblique, lanceolate, acuminate; basal pinnae ovate-lanceolate, nearly as long as second basal pinna, shortly stalked, base narrowed; pinnules anadromous or subopposite, pinnules on basiscopic side of pinna longer than those on acroscopic side; pinnae above basal and subbasal pinnae sessile, base not narrowed, pinnules catadromous; middle pinnae ca. 15 × 4 cm, pinnate; pinnules 10-12 pairs, oblong, 15-30 × 5-8 mm, sessile, base inequilateral, auriculate, parallel to costa on acroscopic side, cuneate on basiscopic side, crenate at margin, basiscopic pinnules of basal pinnae sometimes pinnatilobate, apex obtuse. Lamina papery when dried, rachis and costae hairy in adaxial groove, costae with spines adaxially, but costules without spines adaxially. Sori shortly linear or oblong, occasionally J-shaped, biseriate on both sides of costules; indusia shortly linear, oblong, or J-shaped, persistent. 2n = 160.

C. M. Kuo (Taiwania 30: 65. 1985) thought Athyrium kuratae to be conspecific with A. otophorum. Their relationship requires further investigation.

Mountain forests; 2400-2500 m. ?Taiwan, Yunnan [S Japan].