Family : Dasyatidae (Stingrays)
Order : Rajiformes  (skates and rays)
Class : Elasmobranchii (sharks and rays)
Fishbase Name : Freshwater whipray
Fish Name : Himantura chaophraya
Max size : 240 cm WD (male/unsexed; Ref. 27732); max. published weight: 600.0 kg (Ref. 6871)
Environment : demersal; potamodromous
Climate : tropical; 25°N - 20°S
Global Importance : fisheries: minor commercial; aquaculture: experimental; aquarium: potential
Resilience: Very low, minimum population doubling time more than 14 years (Assuming FecDistribution : Asia and Oceania: Mekong and Chao Phraya basins; also from eastern Borneo, New Guinea and northern Australia.
Diagnosis : Dorsal spines (total): 0-0. Absence of ventral and dorsal skin folds on the tail, and the broad greyish to blackish marginal band on the ventral surface of the disc. The dorsal surface of the disc is brown (Ref. 27732). Spiral valve with 21 turns; dorsal surface with uniform brown or grey coloration (Ref. 12693). Lacking caudal fin; with long whip-like tail (Ref. 43281).
Biology : Inhabits sandy bottoms in estuaries and large rivers (Ref. 12693). Feeds on benthic invertebrates (Ref. 12693) and fishes (Ref. 32457). Ovoviviparous (Ref. 50449). Caught occasionally by demersal gillnet and longline fisheries operating in riverine and estuarine areas. Utilized for its meat and possibly its cartilage (Ref.58048). Marketed fresh, with large individuals being sold in cut pieces by the kilogram (Ref. 12693). Size reaches to about 500 cm TL. Threatened due to over harvesting and pollution (Ref. 58490)
Threatened : Dangerous:  
Dangerous : venomous
Coordinator : McEachran, John
Main Ref : Rainboth, W.J.. 1996. (Ref. 12693)

India country information
Common Names : [ No common name ]
Status : questionable
Salinity : freshwater
Uses : no uses