Himantura fai (*) Cladus: Eukaryota Vernacular names ------------ The pink whipray, Himantura fai, is a species of stingray in the family Dasyatidae. It may be synonymous with the sharpnose stingray (H. gerrardi).[1] The exact distribution of this species is unclear due to confusion with the pointed-nose whipray (H. jenkinsii), but it is believed to be common throughout the the tropical waters of the Indo-Pacific, from South Africa eastward to Micronesia and Australia, and as far north as Iriomote Island.[2][3] It is commonly encountered in lagoons and sand flats near coral reefs, to a depth of 200 m (660 ft).[1] The specific epithet fai means "stingray" in the native languages of Samoa, Tonga, Futuna, and Tahiti.[4] The pink whipray has a diamond-shaped pectoral fin disk with a very broad, characteristically blunt-tipped snout. The eyes and spiracles are small and widely spaced. The mouth is medium-sized, with two large central and two tiny lateral papillae on the floor. The tail is extremely long and thin, measuring at least twice the body length when intact, with a single serrated spine and no fin folds. There is a broad, dense band of rounded dermal denticles over the disk and tail. In juveniles, the skin is either smooth or bears scattered, flat, heart-shaped denticles. The dorsal coloration is a uniform light brown to brownish pink, the underside is light, and the tail is dark gray to black past the spine.[3][2] This species reaches a length of at least 5 m (16 ft) and a disk width of 1.5 m (5 ft).[3] It can weigh as much as 18.5 kg (41 lbs).[1] Pink whiprays are often seen in groups. Like other stingrays, this species is ovoviviparous, in which the developing embryos are supplied with nutrient-rich histotroph ("uterine milk") through specialized structures by the mother. The newborns measure around 55 cm (22 in) across. It is regularly caught in tangle nets, bottom trawls, and less commonly on longlines. The meat, skin, and cartilage are utilized.[1] They are also of value to ecotourism; in locations such as the Maldives, they are attracted to visitors using food.[5] References 1. ^ a b c d Froese, Rainer, and Daniel Pauly, eds. (2009). "Himantura fai" in FishBase. April 2009 version.
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