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🌊 Marine ⚠️ Venomous ⚡ Traumatogenic 🌡️ Tropical

honeycomb whipray

Himantura fava Annandale, 1909
Max Length
-
Max Weight
-
Lifespan
-
Trophic Level
3.6
Depth
-
Climate
Tropical
Resilience
-
Vulnerability
74.00/100
Typical Length
-
Depth Zone
demersal

📖 Overview

Found inshore on soft substrates. Viviparous, with histotrophy. Few biological information is available, diet presumably consists of crustaceans and small fishes. Caught occasionally in demersal tangle nets; meat, skin (of high value) and cartilage are utilized .

Scientific Name
Himantura fava
Authority
Annandale, 1909
Habitat
Marine
Climate
Tropical
Body Shape
Other
Trophic Level
3.6
Vulnerability
74.00/100
Salinity
30–40 ppt

🐟 Physical Description

This species is characterized by absence of skin fold on the ventral surface of the tail; quadrangular profile of disc; whip-like tail variably banded; adults' upper surface with widely spaced, honeycomb-like reticulations; juveniles with relatively large spots on disc .: other.

🌀 Behaviour

Behavioural data for honeycomb whipray is currently being reviewed.

🦐 Diet

aquatic invertebrates
small fish
algae
detritus

🥚 Reproduction

🐣 Oviparous 📦 Batch Spawner
Spawning Season
spring-summer
Spawn Location
Pelagic
Fertilization
External

🌍 Habitat & Distribution

Marine; demersal. Tropical

🌿 Ecology

Zone Preferences
🌊 Marine ⬇️ Benthic
Trophic Level
3.6±0.5

📐 Morphometrics

Length–Weight Relationship: W = 0.01023 × L3.06 (TL)

🌡️ Water Parameters & Tolerance

Salinity Range
30–40ppt

📊 Population Risk & Fisheries

Fishing Vulnerability
74.00/100
High vulnerability
Trophic Level
3.6
Predator
Body Shape
Other
Climate Zone
Tropical
Described By
Annandale, 1909

⚠️ Venom Profile

Medical Warning: This species is venomous. Seek immediate medical attention if envenomated. Contact emergency services and follow first aid guidance below.
Venom Type
proteinaceous cytotoxic
Delivery
serrated caudal spine (barb)
Potency
Severe
Mortality Risk
Low
Symptom Onset
5min
Duration
24.0hrs
Antivenom
✗ Not Available
Named Toxins
phosphodiesterase 5-nucleotidase cardiotoxin peptides
Symptoms
  • intense pain
  • laceration
  • oedema
  • retained spine fragments possible
Affected Body Systems
cardiovascular muscular
First Aid
Hot water immersion. Do not remove embedded barb from chest or abdomen - medical removal only.
Medical Treatment

Wound care, imaging for retained spine, tetanus prophylaxis, antibiotic prophylaxis for marine wounds.

References: Compiled from Bhide (2018), Halstead et al. (1988) and family-specific envenomation literature

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