Himantura sp. near fai (Roundnose stingray)

Jordan & Seale, 1906

Life > Eukaryotes > Opisthokonta > Metazoa (animals) > Bilateria > Deuterostomia > Chordata > Craniata > Vertebrata (vertebrates)  > Gnathostomata (jawed vertebrates) > Chondrichthyes > Elasmobranchii > Batoidei >  Myliobatoidei > Dasyatidae

Himantura sp. near fai (Roundnose stingray) [Illustration by Ann Hecht ©]

Identification

A plain dark angular stingray with a bluntly pointed snout, long slender tail over twice body length when intact, no caudal finfolds, and no large thorns. A band of small flat denticles along midback and usually one medium-sized sting on tail. Colour black to grey-blue above, underside white, tail without contrasting bands.

Size

To over 2.8 m TL and 1.1 m DW (immature individuals).

Range

East coast, Durban Bay and probably elsewhere in Natal. Similar stingrays occur off India, Thailand, and Samoa (Himantura fai), and may be the same as this ray.

Habitat

Apparently a shallow-water, tropical species.

Biology

Unknown.

Human Impact

Rare, more specimens wanted, caught by shore anglers.

Text by Leonard J.V. Compagno, David A. Ebert and Malcolm J. Smale