Honeycomb stingray (Himantura uarnak) is a saltwater, brackish species recorded in Taiwan, Singapore, Malaysia. It is found at depths of 20–50 m. The main season in Taiwan, Singapore, Malaysia runs all year.
Scientific name: Himantura uarnak · Water: Saltwater, Brackish · Season: All year
Size: up to 200 cm
The honeycomb stingray is a dasyatid and a large bottom-dwelling stingray, ranging from the Persian Gulf and the Red Sea to southern Africa and French Polynesia, north to Taiwan and south to Australia, and it has been taken in the estuary of the Ganges. It is common off sandy beaches, in shallow estuaries and lagoons, and over the sandy areas of coral reefs, from about 20 to 50 m, and may enter fresh water; it feeds on small fishes, bivalves, crabs, shrimps, worms and jellyfishes, and is ovoviviparous. It can be encountered all year. Locally it is taken by demersal tangle net, bottom trawl, longline and beach seine, is a popular angling fish, and is not esteemed as food. Maximum disc width is about 200 cm, commonly about 45 cm, and maximum weight about 150 kg. Trophic level is 3.6, fishing vulnerability very high at 90 of 100, and resilience very low. IUCN lists it as endangered. The name has been applied to several similar spotted species and may represent a species complex whose identity is confused, so a photograph alone should not be treated as a confirmed identification.
Caution: has venomous spines. Take great care when unhooking and handling; the sting is extremely painful.
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