Himantura leoparda

(Manjaji-Matsumoto & Last, 2008)

Vernacular names
English : Leopard whipray
French : Raie pastenague léopard

Classification
Class : Elasmobranchii
Order : Myliobatiformes
Family : Dasyatidae
Notes : No subspecies known.

Identification
The species grows to disk width of 140 cm and total length of 410 cm. Very long thin tail. Coloration white to yellow-brown with dense network of brown to black dots forming wide rosette-shaped (roughly leopard-like) blotches on whole back.

Range and habitat
The species occurs in the Indo-Pacific area, from Gulf of Aden and Persian Gulf to East Africa, eastwards to Taiwan, Ryukyu Islands and north Australia. Lives in sandy and muddy bottoms near coasts, estuaries, to 70 m deep.

Conservation
IUCN RED LIST : VULNERABLE
CITES : Not Listed
Status : The species is endangered by overfishing, habitat loss and pollution as it prefers shallower waters. Its low fecundity can induce even more threats.
Ex-Situ Programs : None known

Observation

 

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