dusky. Maximum size over 56 cm disc width (immature
male). Off Durban, in water less than 50 m deep; only 1
specimen known, more wanted.
....
3O.S Himantura draco: 56 em immature male holotype (Durban).
30.9 Himantura gerrardi
(Gray, 1851)
Sharpnose stingray
Skerpneus-pylstert
Trygon gerrardi Gray, 1851: 116 (India) . Dasyatis jenkinsii (non
Annandale): Wallace, 1967: 47'; van der Elst, 1981: 41*. Himantura
gerrardi: Compagno & Heemstra, 1984: 3.
T h 22-34
I
' 11
D"
.
eet 28-40; ora papl ae 4. ISC slIghtly wIder than long, mostly
naked, with a mid-dorsal band of small flattened denticles in adults,
extending onto tail base; tail length when intact about twice disc .
30.9 Himantura gerrardi: 19 em wide female (Durban).
30: DASY A llDAE (SllNGRA YS)
Colour light brown above, white below, numerous transverse bands of dark and light brown on tail (may be obscure
on large individuals) .. Maximum disc width about 90 cm,
length about 2 m, weight up to 65 kg. Eastern Cape to
Natal and Mozambique; widespread in Indian Ocean and
western Pacific from Zanzibar, the Red Sea, India, Ceylon
east to Indonesia, Japan, Philippines and Australia. A common inshore stingray, often hooked by anglers and fighting
gamely; flesh not esteemed but good eating.
30.10 Himantura uarnak
(Forsskal, 1775)
Honeycomb stingray
Heuningkoek-pylstert
Raja uarnak Forsskal, 1775 (Red Sea). Trygon uarnak: Bleeker, 1860:
58. Dasyatis uarnak: Smith, SFSA No. 79*; Wallace, 1967: 44* . Dasyatis
favus (non Annandale): Smith, 1961: 565, No. 79b*. Himantura uarnak:
van der Elst, 1981: 46'; Compagno & Heemstra, 1984: 2.
T h
26-40.
. I I
" 7
.
D'
oot rows 27-44; mtestma va ve turns lv-I ; oral papIllae 4. ISC
slightly wider than long, mostly naked , with a midbelt of small flattened
denticles extending onto tailbase; tail length when intact over twice disc
length.
Adults brown to blackish above, white below, with white
to yellow lines on dorsal surface forming a marbled or
reticulated pattern; tail striped with brown or blackish and
white or yellow; juveniles pale brown, covered with small
dark spots. Maximum disc width about 200 em, length at
least 6 m (mostly tail), weight to almost 120 kg. Eastern
30.10 Himantura uarnak: 120 em wide (Natal).
139
male). Off Durban, in water less than 50 m deep; only 1
specimen known, more wanted.
....
3O.S Himantura draco: 56 em immature male holotype (Durban).
30.9 Himantura gerrardi
(Gray, 1851)
Sharpnose stingray
Skerpneus-pylstert
Trygon gerrardi Gray, 1851: 116 (India) . Dasyatis jenkinsii (non
Annandale): Wallace, 1967: 47'; van der Elst, 1981: 41*. Himantura
gerrardi: Compagno & Heemstra, 1984: 3.
T h 22-34
I
' 11
D"
.
eet 28-40; ora papl ae 4. ISC slIghtly wIder than long, mostly
naked, with a mid-dorsal band of small flattened denticles in adults,
extending onto tail base; tail length when intact about twice disc .
30.9 Himantura gerrardi: 19 em wide female (Durban).
30: DASY A llDAE (SllNGRA YS)
Colour light brown above, white below, numerous transverse bands of dark and light brown on tail (may be obscure
on large individuals) .. Maximum disc width about 90 cm,
length about 2 m, weight up to 65 kg. Eastern Cape to
Natal and Mozambique; widespread in Indian Ocean and
western Pacific from Zanzibar, the Red Sea, India, Ceylon
east to Indonesia, Japan, Philippines and Australia. A common inshore stingray, often hooked by anglers and fighting
gamely; flesh not esteemed but good eating.
30.10 Himantura uarnak
(Forsskal, 1775)
Honeycomb stingray
Heuningkoek-pylstert
Raja uarnak Forsskal, 1775 (Red Sea). Trygon uarnak: Bleeker, 1860:
58. Dasyatis uarnak: Smith, SFSA No. 79*; Wallace, 1967: 44* . Dasyatis
favus (non Annandale): Smith, 1961: 565, No. 79b*. Himantura uarnak:
van der Elst, 1981: 46'; Compagno & Heemstra, 1984: 2.
T h
26-40.
. I I
" 7
.
D'
oot rows 27-44; mtestma va ve turns lv-I ; oral papIllae 4. ISC
slightly wider than long, mostly naked , with a midbelt of small flattened
denticles extending onto tailbase; tail length when intact over twice disc
length.
Adults brown to blackish above, white below, with white
to yellow lines on dorsal surface forming a marbled or
reticulated pattern; tail striped with brown or blackish and
white or yellow; juveniles pale brown, covered with small
dark spots. Maximum disc width about 200 em, length at
least 6 m (mostly tail), weight to almost 120 kg. Eastern
30.10 Himantura uarnak: 120 em wide (Natal).
139