Facts

Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Chondrichthyes
Order: Rajiformes Family:Dasyatidae
Genus: Himantura
Size: Total length: up to 500 cm
Wing: diameter: up to 240 cm
Maximum weight: 600 kg

Description

The giant freshwater stingray lives up to its name, possessing a venomous sting and a large whip-like tail. It is brown on the upper surface of its broad, thin, disc-shaped body, and paler beneath with a ring of black around the edge. It has a large snout but small eyes.

Range

Thought to occur in most large rivers of tropical Australia, as well as the Fly River basin, New Guinea, the Mahakam River basin, Borneo and several rivers in Thailand.

Biology

Despite its enormous size, rivalling the Mekong giant catfish as largest freshwater fish in the world, the giant freshwater stingray is elusive and understudied. It is thought to mature at around 110 cm across and gives birth to live young of 30 cm across (4). It is venomous but uses its sting in self-defence as it preys upon invertebrates and relatively small fish.

Conservation

Further research into this incredible fish's biology and status is necessary. The Australian government plan to form a national recovery team who will attempt to compile information on the distribution, abundance and ecology of the giant freshwater stingray