TAXONOMY
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Chondrichthyes
Subclass: Elasmobranchii
Order: Myliobatiformes
Family: Dasyatidae (Whiptail Stingrays, whip-like tails, which are much longer than the disc)
Genus/species: Himantura uarnak
GENERAL CHARACTERISTICS: Disc light brown above with conspicuous dark spots, white ventrally. Tail with bands of black and white, three times the body length. One tail spine. The dark spots are separated in the young ray; in the adult they become crowded together, forming the reticulated pattern from which it gets its name. Snout sharply pointed. Band of flat denticles down the back.
Width up to 2 m (6.5 ft), weigh up to 120 kg (265 lbs).
DISTRIBUTION/HABITAT: Subtropical, Indo-West Pacific, Red Sea, to southern Africa and French Polynesia, north to Taiwan, south to Australia.
Benthic, found in surf zone, sandy beaches, sandy areas of coral reefs, shallow estuaries and lagoons, down to 90 m (295 ft). It can tolerate brackish water and in India, has been found in the fresh water of Chilka Lake and the Hoogly River, a tributary of the Ganges River.
DIET IN THE WILD: Main foods: small fish, also bivalves crabs, shrimps, worms and jellies.
REPRODUCTION: Ovoviviparous. Embryos feeding initially on yolk, then receiving additional nourishment from the mother by indirect absorption of uterine fluid enriched with mucus, fat or protein through specialised structures
REMARKS: Although venomous, it is a popular angling fish due to its being a powerful fighter. It is not a food fish but is used in Chinese medicine.
CONSERVATION: IUCN Red list Vulnerable (VU)
REMARKS: Since their mouths are directed downward and often placed against the sand, stingrays use their spiracles rather than their mouths for water intake.
Stingrays have a spiral valve in their intestine that increases food absorption, and lack a swim bladder.
Although venomous, it is a popular angling fish due to its being a powerful fighter. It is not a food fish but is used in Chinese medicine.
References
California Academy of Sciences, Steinhart Aquarium, Reef Lagoon 2016
Ron’s flickr http://www.flickr.com/photos/cas_docents/sets/72157627919810858/
Ron’s WordPress Shortlink http://wp.me/p1DZ4b-P8
fishbase www.fishbase.us/summary/5507
IUCN www.iucnredlist.org/details/161692/0
Encyclopedia of Life eol.org/pages/1859/details
Ron's Critter of the Day 