Whiptail Stingray
Himantura uarnak
Dasyatidae family · Demersal
UAE Fishing Regulations
Protected Species — Honeycomb Whiptail Stingray
Scope: Fishing and trade/sales banned — including imported stock
Authority: MOCCAE · CITES Appendix II; Federal Law No. 23 of 1999
A large, reticulated (net-patterned) stingray that buries itself in shallow sandy areas. The extremely long tail carries a venomous barb capable of causing serious injury. Common in UAE coastal shallows — shuffling your feet in the water is essential to avoid treading on a buried ray.
Species Stats
Max Length
200 cm
Max Weight
60 kg
Depth Range
0–50 m
Diet
Crustaceans, worms, small fish
Habitat
Sandy and muddy coastal seabeds, shallow estuaries
Local Name (Arabic)
لخمة
Fun Facts
- 1
The disc (body) can reach over 1.8 m wide and the tail can be 2–3 times the body length.
- 2
Listed as Vulnerable on the IUCN Red List due to overfishing pressure across its range.
- 3
The "shuffle step" when wading in UAE shallow waters specifically avoids this species.