The Giant Freshwater Stingray can grow up to 1300 pounds, which is 600 kilograms.

River Monster – Death Ray

Death Ray is a common name givien to freshwater and salt water stingrays. We will be focusing on the freshwater variety. The Death Ray is located in Southeast Asia and in South America and range in size from 25 inches to 6 feet. They can reach a massive 1300 pounds. The largest is the Giant Freshwater Stingray found in Southeast Asia.

The Giant Freshwater Stingray (Himantura chaophraya) has a limited distribution, meaning it cannot be found in very many places. In fact, it was not even known to the scientific world until the 1990s, though it was well known in its local habitat for thousands of years due to its ferouscious and deadly reputation. This fish is feared by many locals that work and live where it is located. A single strike from its barbed tail can kill a full sized man and death is agonizing.

Giant Freshwater Stingray Massive Size

The Giant Freshwater Stingray can grow very large. As I mentioned above, it can grow up to 1300 pounds, which is 600 kilograms. Freshwater fish do not get much larger than this. If you ever fish in its habitat, have a good sharp knife on you in case you need to cut the line in case you line jams and are pulled toward the water.

The male Giant Freshwater Stingray is much smaller than the female, which can be as large as eight times bigger the male. The barb from a 700 pound Giant Freshwater Stingray can reach about 11 inches.

Distribution and Habitat

The Giant Freshwater Stingray is found in Malaysia and Thailand river systems. These rivers are warm and silty. Like other stingrays, they are found on the bottom.

Does it Deserve the Death Ray Name?

Like the marine version of the Giant Stingray, it has a tail with a sharp boney barb at the end of its tail. The edge of the spear is serrated along both sides designed to go in easy but tear away at flesh as it is pulled out.

Most attacks actually occur because people step on them in shallow waters. If the barb gets stuck in you, they can pull you under with no chance to being rescued. The barb also leaves behind a venom that causes intense pain and takes years to heal if one is able to survive the initial intense pain and infection. The pain from the venom is enough to cause a grown man to faint.

The venom has no treatment. It quickly kills tissue and can lead to the surrounding tissue being killed and even leads to amputation in some cases.

Giant Freshwater Stingray Man Killer

However, while this fish is greatly feared and has venom that can immobilize a man for many weeks after being attacked, the Giant Freshwater Stingray is not a man eater. They will only attack if they are stepped on or their habitat is invaded. However, they are found in rivers that are murky so they are not easily spotted.

While the death ray can kill, it does not seek out to do so. Caution is recommended when getting into river water in Malaysia and Thailand.