DASYATIDAE Himantura gerrardi, 25.0 cm DW (photo by Seishi Kimura) Himantura gerrardi (Gray, 1851) Whitespotted Whipray Disc rhomboidal, trunk thickened; pectoral- fin apex narrowly rounded. Tail very slender, elongated, whip-like, ca. 2.5 to 3 times disc width, with usually a single venomous spine (sting) and no dermal folds. Mouth narrow, pair of enlarged central papillae on floor, usually with 2 minute ones laterally. Color: disc brown or grayish brown dorsally, with white spots scattered posteriorly, white ventrally; tail brownish with row of white spots dorsolaterally to sting; beyond sting alternating black and white bands on upper half of tail, uniformly dusky on lower half. Size: maximum length about 2 m, maximum disc width at least ca. 90 cm. Distribution: distributed in Indo-West Pacific, from India to New Guinea, north to Japan. Remarks: marketed fresh or dried.