Freshwater whipray

Freshwater whipray

Taxobox
name = Freshwater whipray


image_caption =
status = VU | status_system = IUCN2.3
regnum = Animalia
phylum = Chordata
classis = Chondrichthyes
subclassis = Elasmobranchii
ordo = Rajiformes
familia = Dasyatidae
genus = "Himantura"
species = "H. chaophraya"
binomial = "Himantura chaophraya"
binomial_authority = Monkolprasit & Roberts, 1990

The freshwater whipray, "Himantura chaophraya", is a very large freshwater stingray of the family Dasyatidae, found in the Mekong and Chao Phraya river basins in Southeast Asia, eastern Borneo, New Guinea and northern Australia.

Its maximum published weight is 600 kg and the body diameter can be up to 2.4 meters (total size including tail 5 meters). Growth rates are relatively unknown, as this species was only formally described in 1989. It appears to be slow growing, as population doubling time is greater than 14 years.

Its color varies with age, from chocolate-brown in young specimens, to a muddy coloration in older, larger fish.

The freshwater whipray is of little commercial value, except that its winglike fins are sometimes sold as sushi in Japan. Locally, there are fisheries for it; the people of Cambodia catch this fish and boil its fins. There is a growing sport fishery for this species, as the IGFA record is 200 lbs.

The freshwater whipray has the largest barb (stinger) of any stingray. It can be 15 inches long.

Reproduction is ovoviviparous.

References

*
* [http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2007/07/photogalleries/giant-fishes/photo7.html Photo of the Giant freshwater stingray at National Geographic]


Wikimedia Foundation. 2010.

Игры ⚽ Нужно решить контрольную?

Look at other dictionaries:

  • White-edge freshwater whipray — Taxobox name = White edge freshwater whipray status = EN | status system = IUCN2.3 regnum = Animalia phylum = Chordata classis = Chondrichthyes ordo = Rajiformes familia = Dasyatidae genus = Himantura species = H. signifer binomial = Himantura… …   Wikipedia

  • Marbled whipray — Conservation status Endangered (IUCN 3.1) …   Wikipedia

  • Mangrove whipray — Conservation status Near Threatened ( …   Wikipedia

  • Scaly whipray — Taxobox | name = Scaly whipray image caption = regnum = Animalia phylum = Chordata classis = Chondrichthyes subclassis = Elasmobranchii ordo = Rajiformes familia = Dasyatidae genus = Himantura species = H. imbricata binomial = Himantura imbricata …   Wikipedia

  • List of fishes of India — This is a list of the fish species found in India and is based on FishBase. [Froese, R. and D. Pauly. Editors. 2006.FishBase. World Wide Web electronic publication. [http://www.fishbase.org] , version (05/2006)] AlbuliformesAlbulidae… …   Wikipedia

  • Himantura — Taxobox name = Himantura status = trend = image caption = Mangrove whipray, Himantura granulata regnum = Animalia phylum = Chordata classis = Chondrichthyes subclassis = Elasmobranchii ordo = Rajiformes familia = Dasyatidae genus = Himantura… …   Wikipedia

  • Stingray (disambiguation) — Stingrays are members of a family of rays related to skates and sharks.Stingray or Sting Ray may also refer to:Ichthyology*Deepwater stingrays (Plesiobatidae), family of rays **Deepwater stingray ( Plesiobatis daviesi ) *River stingrays… …   Wikipedia

  • List of endangered animal species — This is a list of endangered animal species according to the World Conservation Union (IUCN) Red List. The list includes endangered species of the kingdom Animalia. NOTOC A* Acheilognathus elongatus * Acipenser Endangered * Acrocephalus… …   Wikipedia

  • Estuary stingray — Conservation status Vulnerable (IUCN 3 …   Wikipedia

  • Wildlife of Thailand — The wildlife of Thailand includes its flora and fauna and their natural habitats.FaunaAnimals native to Thailand: * Acrochordus granulatus *Agile Gibbon * Ahaetulla nasuta * Amphiesma stolatum *Asian Elephant *Asian Golden Cat *Asian Palm Civet… …   Wikipedia

Share the article and excerpts

Direct link
Do a right-click on the link above
and select “Copy Link”