Family : Dasyatidae (Stingrays)
Order : Rajiformes  (skates and rays)
Class : Elasmobranchii (sharks and rays)
Fishbase Name : Honeycomb stingray
Fish Name : Himantura uarnak
Max size : 200 cm WD (male/unsexed; Ref. 3263); max. published weight: 120.0 kg (Ref. 3263)
Environment : reef-associated; amphidromous ; depth range 20 - 50 m
Climate : subtropical; 23 - 26°C; 38°N - 32°S
Global Importance : fisheries: commercial
Resilience: Very low, minimum population doubling time more than 14 years (Fec=3-5)Distribution : Indo-West Pacific: Red Sea (and eastern Mediterranean via Suez Canal) to southern Africa and French Polynesia, north to Taiwan, south to Australia. Also in the Arafura Sea (Ref. 9819). Collected from the estuary of the River Ganges (Ref. 33178). This name has been used for a number of similar spotted species (Ref. 6871). Probably a species complex (Ref. 35766). Its identity has been confused in many publications and Micronesian specimens should be re-examined (Ref. 37816).
Diagnosis : Dorsal spines (total): 0-0; Anal spines: 0-0. Huge stingray with conspicuous dark spots on a light brown disc; spots well-spaced in young but crowded to form reticulated pattern in adult; white ventrally; tail marked with bands of black and white; snout sharply pointed; disc with narrowly rounded outer corners, and tail long, slender and nearly three times body length when intact, with no caudal finfolds; disc without thorns but with band of flat denticles along midback (in adults); usually 1 medium-sized sting on tail (Ref. 5578).
Biology : Common off sandy beaches and in shallow estuaries and lagoons; also found in sandy areas of coral reefs (Ref. 9710). Also offshore down to 50 m depth (Ref. 5578). May enter fresh water (Ref. 5578). Feeds on small fishes, bivalves, crabs, shrimps, worms (Ref. 3263) and jellyfishes (Ref. 37816). Ovoviviparous (Ref. 50449). Common catch of the demersal tangle net, bottom trawl, longline and beach seine fisheries (Ref.58048). Popular angling fish (Ref. 3263). Not esteemed as a food fish (Ref. 3263). Used in Chinese medicine (Ref. 12166). Tail is used as a decorative item (Ref. 27550). Utilized for its meat, skin (high value) and cartilage (Ref.58048)
Threatened : Dangerous:  
Dangerous : venomous , Mohsin, A.K.M. and M.A. Ambak. 1996
Coordinator : McEachran, John
Main Ref : Fricke, R.. 1999. (Ref. 33390)

India country information
Common Names : Leopard stingray, పులి టెంకీ , పులి టెంకీ  , ಬೆಲ್ಯ, वाघया पाकात, సేనకా టిరికె , भातिया, તરાબલા, పుల్లి తిరుక్కయి  , சனக்கா தீருக்கே , തിരണ്ടി, തിരണ്ടി , ಬೆಲ್ಯ , વરખોલ પટરી, બુર , Belya, Bhatya, Boor, Honeycombed stingray, Madi, Marbled sting ray, Puli-tenke, Pulli-thirukkai, Sankush, Shankar, Sona-kah-tirike, Tarabla, Thirandi, Waghya-pakat, Warkhol Patari, Whaghya pakat, Banded whiptail stingray, Shankar-machh
Status : native
Salinity : freshwater, brackish, marine
Uses : no uses