Himantura uarnak

(Gmelin, 1789)

Vernacular names
English : Honeycomb stingray
French : Raie pastenague alvéolée

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

Identification
The species grows to disk width of 160 cm and total length of 450 cm. Very long and thin tail with spots at base, then weak bands. Coloration beige, cream to light brown with dark brown to black spots, sometimes forming reticulated pattern.

Range and habitat
The species occurs in the Indo-Pacific area, from Red Sea and Gulf of Aden to East Africa, eastwards to Philippine, central Indonesia and parts of Arafura sea. Lives around sandy and muddy bottoms near coasts, estuaries, to 50 m deep.

Conservation
IUCN RED LIST : ENDANGERED
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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