Fin's Fish Guide
The Bengal whipray (Brevitrygon walga) is a brackish-water fish of the family Dasyatidae that grows up to 20 cm.
Description
The dwarf whipray is a small stingray from the Bay of Bengal, along eastern India, Bangladesh and Myanmar. The species grows to only about 20 cm wide, making it one of the smallest stingrays. It has a rhomboid, flattened disc body and a long, thin whip-like tail with a serrated venomous spine. As a bottom-dweller it lives in shallow coastal water to about 40 metres and eats small bottom animals. It is caught in large quantities as by-catch; through pressure on the population it is listed as Near Threatened (NT) on the IUCN Red List.
Frequently asked questions
How do you recognise the Bengal whipray?
The Bengal whipray has an irregular in shape body, is mainly brown and shows a plain pattern. One of the smallest stingrays; serrated venomous sting in the whip-like tail
Where does the Bengal whipray live?
The Bengal whipray lives in brackish water and is mostly found around sand or mud bottom. Bay of Bengal
How big does the Bengal whipray get?
The Bengal whipray grows to a maximum of about 20 cm.
Is the Bengal whipray dangerous to humans?
The Bengal whipray is venomous — handle spines with care and seek medical help after a sting if needed. The serrated tail spine is venomous. If stung: let the wound bleed, clean it and immerse for 30-90 minutes in water as hot as tolerable (about 45 C) to break down the venom; do not remove a spine lodged in the chest or abdomen but call emergency services immediately and always seek medical help.
Is the Bengal whipray edible?
The Bengal whipray is rarely eaten.
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All data
Identification
Appearance
Habitat & distribution
Behaviour & biology
For anglers
Safety
Status & sources
Same genus Brevitrygon
More from the family Dasyatidae
Want the complete picture on the Bengal whipray?
Point your camera at the fish and Fin names the species in seconds. Free, and the Bengal whipray is one of 12,519 species in the app.