Wildlife Science Class

Leopard Whipray

Taxonomy

Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Chondrichthyes
Family: Dasyatidae
Order: Myliobatiformes
Genus: Himantura
Species: Himantura leoparda

Evolution

Subspecies: 8 different types of families. 4 subspecies of leopard whipray
Existence: 150 millions years ago
Closest living relative: Reticulate Whipray
Ancestors: Panray, hybodont sharks, Guitarfish

Description

Description: 4.6 ft across and 13 ft long. The leopard whipray has a diamond shape. They have a triangle snout and small eyes. Very thin whip like tail. They have a brown color to them. They can live up to 15-25 years. They weigh about 200 lb.
Key points: Leopard spots on their back
Differences between male and female: females are usually smaller than males

Description of Habitat

Coral reef are in the leopard whipray habitat
Different species of tunas, blowfish, and sharks
More than 80 inches of water fall in the Pacific Ocean
It says above 82.4 F
Tropical waters

Distribution

Africa and India
Lionfish are invasive species in the west indo pacific waters

Diet

They eat small fish, crab, worms, shrimp, and sea jelly
They eat during the day by lifting the front of their bodies which draws the prey up like a suction cup

Soical Strucutre

They are usually found in solitary parts of the oceans.
They fend for themselves.
They are not social creatures. They only interactions they have is during mating

Development

They are fully developed at birth.
Around 2 to 3 years of age.
Males are larger than females.

Reproudction

Mating season happens once a year during the breeding season, which can depend on the location.
One.
During the warmer months. Some regions the mating season occurs during the summer and spring months.
Some rituals are chasing, circling, and displaying elaborate body movements.
They females lay 2 to 6 at a time.

Cause of deaths

Bull sharks, tiger sharks, and great hammerhead sharks are predators.
Other male Leopard whipray.
none that target them specifically.
Habitat degradation, entanglement, overfishing, and climate change.

Competition

Competition with everyone for food, shelter and mating opportunities.
Out of the species competition are sharks, large predatory fish, other rays, and marine mammals.
They compete over food, territory, shelter, and mating opportunities.
They affect their whole ecosystem, especially their food and territory.

Impact of Human

Overfishing, Habitat degradation, Climate change, pollution, and coastal development.
For thousands of years
Marine protected areas, sustainable fishing practice, Habitat conversation, Pollution reduction, and research and monitoring.

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