Mangrove Whipray

Urogymnus granulatus

Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Elasmobranchii
Order: Myliobatiformes
Family: Dasyatidae
Genus: Urogymnus
Species: Urogymnus granulatus

The mangrove whipray (Urogymnus granulatus) is a large stingray up to about 1.4 m across, with a dark brown to grey disc often sprinkled with small white spots and a rough, granular texture. Its long tail turns abruptly white behind the venomous spine, which makes it easy to recognise.

As its name suggests, juveniles shelter among mangrove roots and in shallow estuaries, while adults move onto sandy flats and reef slopes. It feeds on crustaceans, worms and small fish. The species is listed as Endangered.

In the Philippines mangrove whiprays are found in coastal waters near mangroves and reefs and are sometimes seen by divers on sandy patches near reef edges.

Photo: Jan Ebr & Ivana Ebrová, CC BY 4.0, via iNaturalist