Giant freshwater stingray
(Himantura chaophraya)
is a giant species of stingray native to rivers in southeast Asia such as the Mekong and Chao Phraya rivers. there are reports of individuals weighing 1000+ pounds, 16 ft long and 7 ft across. as with other stingrays (not skates) they have a toxic barb that can grow up to 15 in long and is capable of piercing bone (god that is scary). their diet consists of fish and invertebrates that live on the bottom of the river. due to over-fishing and habitat loss they are currently listed as endangered by the IUCN.
Phylogeny
Animalia-Chordata-Chondricthyes-Elasmobranchii-Myliobatiformes-Dasyatidae-Himantura
damn!
FUN FACT:
During the filming of the episode of River Monsters where the host catches one of these behemoths, she actually GIVES BIRTH while in the net.
that video was so cool aaaa the babies are so cute ;v; wow I love water dwelling creatures <3