Lifespan
UnknownDue to its elusive nature
UnknownDue to its elusive nature
Smaller fish, crustaceans & mollusks
Large rivers with a muddy or sandy bottom
Mekong & Chao Phraya River Basins
Most likely the world’s largest freshwater fish, the giant freshwater stingray can weigh up to 600kg and grow to a length of 5m from nose to tail. Males are smaller than females, which can be eight times bigger. Despite its size, it is very elusive and very little is known about this mysterious fish.
It was first scientifically described in 1990 and up till now, next to nothing is known about this species, its numbers and behaviour. The population in the wild is dwindling due to pollution, habitat destruction and overfishing. Dams block their migratory routes.
Short-snouted and long-tailed, the flattened body and fins of this fish help it glide smoothly along the river bed. Patchy patterns on its back resemble sun-dappled river beds.
To avoid detection by predator and prey alike, it buries itself in sandy or silted river bottoms, breathing through holes, or spiracles, located on the top of its body. This laidback lifestyle gives even small individuals protection from larger predators.
Stingrays will not attack unprovoked but they are one of the few megafishes that pose a real danger to humans. Each ray has a deadly barb at the base of its tail. Coated with poisonous mucus, this large venomous stinger can be 28-38 cm long.
Much like a hunting arrow, it easily penetrates human skin and even bone, introducing toxins to the victim's wound strong enough to knock out an adult human.
This species is ovoviviparous, which means it bears live young. The mother carries her young inside her body, each nourished by egg yolk. Babies are born with a mucous plug at the end of their barb to protect the mother during birth!
Together with Veterinary Medical Aquatic Animal Research Centre (VMARC), Chulalongkorn University, we started a pioneering project to tag and track giant freshwater stingrays in the wild.
River Wonders staff Chow Hon Yien visited the research site in the Amphawa district by Mae Klong River in Thailand. He assisted with the capture and release of four stingrays and learned to perform blood draw, ultrasound, and collection of venom.
Endangered
At very high risk of extinction in the wild
The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species is widely recognized as the most comprehensive, objective global approach for evaluating the conservation status of plant and animal species.
Unknown risk of extinction
At relatively low risk of extinction
Likely to become vulnerable in the near future
At high risk of extinction in the wild
At very high risk of extinction in the wild
At extremely high risk of extinction in the wild
Survives only in captivity
No surviving individuals in the wild or in captivity