Bleeker's Whipray

Bleeker's Whipray is a large stingray species native to the coastal waters of the Indo-West Pacific. It is commonly found in shallow marine environments, estuaries, and sometimes rivers throughout this region. These rays prefer the warm, tropical waters of Southeast Asia.

The stingray is named in honor of Pieter Bleeker, a 19th-century Dutch ichthyologist. Bleeker was famous for his massive, comprehensive work cataloging the fish species of the East Indies. His extensive research in the 1800s formed the basis of much of our knowledge of Indo-Pacific marine life.

Bleeker's Whipray is considered a large species of stingray, capable of reaching impressive widths and lengths. Like other whiprays, it features a long, whiplike tail that can stretch well beyond its body disc. This size helps it navigate and hunt along the coastal seabeds.

Like most stingrays, Bleeker's Whipray possesses venomous barbs on its long tail used for self-defense. While they are not aggressive toward humans, they can deliver a painful and dangerous sting if stepped on or threatened. Beachgoers in the Indo-West Pacific are advised to do the "stingray shuffle" to avoid them.