We use stingray hide for our stingray
products but not just any stingray hide will do. We use the hide of a particular stingray, the scaly stingray.
Scaly stingrays in general have characteristics of all the stingrays.
In summary they are:
- They bear live young
- Their eyes are located at the top
- Their mouth are located at the bottom
- They are flat
- They use extensive sense of smell and have electro-receptors to locate
prey
- They feed primarily on mollusks and crustaceans
- They are bottom feeders
There are two stingray species that share the common characteristic as
having scales or as being scaly. One is the Himantura imbricata and the
other is the Himantura walga.
Himantura imbricata
 They
can grow to a maximum size of 25 centimetres across. They regularly migrate
between freshwater and saltwater areas but not for breeding. They do not
migrate more than 100 kilometers and their natural habitat is tropical
waters.
Their maximum size can be up to 25 centimeters across and can grow to
a maximum body length of 140 cm. The tail is shorter than the body with
the ventral surface or underside being entirely white. They are found inshore
coastal waters, typically found in within river mouths (estuarine habitats).
Young ones, juveniles, can be found in mangroves.
As described above, distribution of Himantura imbricata are in tropical
water estuaries. Reports have been made of their location in the following
countries: Cambodia, India, Indonesia, Malaysia, Mauritius, Oman, Philippines,
Somalia, Sri Lanka, and Thailand. They are native to all of the countries
mentioned and are caught there.
Aside from being caught together with the commercial fishing catch, the
main motive of catching this specie is for food. There is a Filipino delicacy
that features stingray meat cooked in coconut milk and served with spices
(found in some restaurants and food stalls in Bacolod city). Besides food,
stingray
skin makes good leather, the tail is used to make whips, and the
sting itself makes a collectible item for tourists (with the venom removed,
of course).
There are no public records or formal documents released showing the numbers
being caught each year. Regardless of the absence of such information,
there has been no listing on the IUCN
Red List. IUCN is the international list of threatened species.
Himantura walga
 H.
wala, also known as "Dwarf whipray", can grow to a maximum length
of 54 centimetres. There is a report of one being 40 centimitres in width.
They are found to be living at the bottom and are marine animals; living
in salt water. Their natural habitat is also in tropical waters and are
found in the following locations: Western Pacific (some areas of Thailand
to southern part of Indonesia). It has been reported to be located in India
also but there is confusion of H. walga with H. imbricata so its westward
distribution in the Indian Ocean is uncertain. So far, records shown that
H. walga is native to the following countries: China, Indonesia, Iran,
Malaysia and Thailand.
H. walga is found to be abundant inshore. Wading in the water should be
done with care. They may also venture into large coastal areas shaped like
a bay.
H. walga have commercial importance for their skin, the same with H. imbricata
and Disyatis Bleekeri. Aside from this, there is very little that can be
found about the commercial activities concerning H. walga. Commercial catching
for H. walga still exits and as the same with H. imbricata, there are no
records to show numbers being caught each year.
Himantura walga are not listed in the IUCN Red List.
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