''Himantura'' is a

genus Genus ( plural genera ) is a taxonomic rank used in the biological classification of extant taxon, living and fossil organisms as well as Virus classification#ICTV classification, viruses. In the hierarchy of biological classification, genus com ...

stingray Stingrays are a group of sea rays, which are cartilaginous fish related to sharks. They are classified in the suborder Myliobatoidei of the order Myliobatiformes and consist of eight families: Hexatrygonidae (sixgill stingray), Plesiobatidae ( ...

in the

family Family (from la, familia) is a Social group, group of people related either by consanguinity (by recognized birth) or Affinity (law), affinity (by marriage or other relationship). The purpose of the family is to maintain the well-being of its ...

Dasyatidae that is native to the

Indo-Pacific The Indo-Pacific is a vast biogeographic region of Earth. In a narrow sense, sometimes known as the Indo-West Pacific or Indo-Pacific Asia, it comprises the tropical waters of the Indian Ocean, the western and central Pacific Ocean, and the ...

. In a 2016

taxonomic Taxonomy is the practice and science of categorization or classification. A taxonomy (or taxonomical classification) is a scheme of classification, especially a hierarchical classification, in which things are organized into groups or types. ...

revision, many of the species formerly assigned to ''Himantura'' were reassigned to other genera ('' Brevitrygon'', '' Fluvitrygon'', '' Maculabatis'', '' Pateobatis'', ''

Styracura ''Styracura'' is a genus of stingray in the family Potamotrygonidae and the only genus in the subfamily Styracurinae. The two species in this genus were formerly included in ''Himantura'', but were moved to ''Styracura'' in 2016 based on morphol ...

'' and ''

Urogymnus ''Urogymnus'' is a genus of stingrays in the family Dasyatidae from marine, brackish and freshwater habitats in the Indo-Pacific and tropical East Atlantic regions. The genus was previously considered to be monotypic, containing only the porc ...

'').

Species

Four species are recognized as valid by some authors, while other authors recognize five valid species. *''

Himantura australis ''Himantura'' is a genus of stingray in the family Dasyatidae that is native to the Indo-Pacific. In a 2016 taxonomic revision, many of the species formerly assigned to ''Himantura'' were reassigned to other genera ('' Brevitrygon'', '' Fluvi ...

'' Last, White & Naylor, 2016 (Australian whipray) *'' Himantura leoparda'' Manjaji-Matsumoto &

Last A last is a mechanical form shaped like a human foot. It is used by shoemakers and cordwainers in the manufacture and repair of shoes. Lasts typically come in pairs and have been made from various materials, including hardwoods, cast iron, and ...

, 2008 (Leopard whipray) *'' Himantura uarnak'' (

J. F. Gmelin , fields = , workplaces = University of GöttingenUniversity of Tübingen , alma_mater = University of Tübingen , doctoral_advisor = Philipp Friedrich GmelinFerdinand Christoph Oetinger , academic_advisors = , doctora ...

, 1789) (Reticulate whipray) *'' Himantura undulata'' (

Bleeker Bleeker is a Dutch occupational surname. Bleeker is an old spelling of ''(linnen)bleker'' ("linen bleacher").Himantura tutul ''Himantura'' is a genus of stingray in the family Dasyatidae that is native to the Indo-Pacific. In a 2016 taxonomic revision, many of the species formerly assigned to ''Himantura'' were reassigned to other genera ('' Brevitrygon'', '' Fluvitry ...

'' (fine-spotted leopard whipray) has had its validity disputed and has been considered a

junior synonym The Botanical and Zoological Codes of nomenclature treat the concept of synonymy differently. * In botanical nomenclature, a synonym is a scientific name that applies to a taxon that (now) goes by a different scientific name. For example, Linna ...

of ''H. uarnak'' by the

Catalog of Fishes Catalog of Fishes is a comprehensive on-line database and reference work on the scientific names of fish species and genera. It is global in its scope and is hosted by the California Academy of Sciences. It has been compiled and is continuously up ...

. However, ''H. tutul'' was previously confused not with ''H. uarnak'', but with ''H. leoparda'', and subsequently shown to be genetically distinct and reproductively isolated from both ''H. uarnak'' and ''H. leoparda''. Both adult ''H. leoparda'' and ''H. tutul'' present leopard-like ocellated spots. These are smaller and less numerous in ''H. tutul''.

References

{{Taxonbar, from=Q135505 Dasyatidae Ray genera Taxa named by Johannes Peter Müller Taxa named by Friedrich Gustav Jakob Henle