Giant freshwater stingray

Discription

The giant freshwater whipray (Himantura chaophraya)is among the world's largest frshwater fish. This cartilaginous fish can grow to, it is rumored, 2000 lbs and 15 feet longHimantura chaophrayawhich, if confirmed, would make it larger than theShort-Tailed Stingray, and also the largest stingrayin the world.

This mammoth fish is found in the Mekong and Chao Phraya river basins in Southeast Asia, where it preys upon fish, crustaceans and occasionaly stings human bathers. Its color varies with age, from chocolate-brown in young specimens, to a muddy coloration in older, larger fish.

Size and Growth

The giant freshwater whipray has been confirmed to reach up to 600 kilograms, or 1,320 pounds.(FishBase/Article ID 11693)There are reliable accounts of fishermen hooking fish bigger than a ton, however. Jean-Francois Heliat, the premier expert on this species, catches the giant stingrays for sport. His biggest specimen is a 200 pounder, although he has hooked and lost fish that were much, much bigger. He recalls hooking and bringing to the surface, a stingray that had to be over 1,000 kilograms.

This fish was lost, however. Although these may just be fishermen's tales, there are so many reports of monster stingrays that there has to be some creditabilty to these rumors. 

Growth rates are relatively unknown, as this species was only formally described in 1989. It appears to be slow growing, as population doubling time is greater than 14 years(Fishbase/ Article ID 11693)

Fishing Intrest

The giant freshwater whipray is of little commercial value, except that its winglike fins are sometimes sold as sushi in Japan Locally, there are fisheries for it; the local people ofCambodia catch this fish and boil its fins. There is a growing sport fishery for this species, as the IGFA record is 200 lbs.

Interesting Facts

The Giant Freshwater Whipray is possibly the largest freshwater fish in the world. If confirmed, its 2000 lb weight would make it three times the size of the Mekong giant catfish which, at 646 lbs, currently holds the record.

The Whipray has the largest barb (stinger) of any stingray. It can be 15 inches long.