Blue Spotted Ray
The bluespotted ray, also called the bluespotted ribbontail ray, is a common sight in the tropical areas of the Indian and western Pacific Oceans, usually around coral reefs.
Class: Chondrichthyes
Order: Myliobatiformes
Family: Dasyatidae
Genus: Taeniura
Species: T. lymma
Common Names: Bluespotted Ray, Bluespotted Ribbontail Ray, Blue-spotted Stingray, Bluespotted Fantail Ray, Bluespotted Lagoon Ray, Reef Ray, Lagoon Ray, Lesser Fantail Ray, Ribbontail Stingray
Bluespotted rays are common in and around the reefs of the Indo-Pacific Ocean. It spends its days mostly hiding among the coral, while at night it travels to sandy shallow waters in small groups in search of food. It usually eats mollusks and crustaceans including shrimp and crabs, as well as small fish.
The bluespotted ray has many predators, including hammerhead sharks, bottlenose dolphins, and other large fish and sea mammals.
The bluespotted ray is an aplacental viviparous species, which means eggs develop inside the mother’s body until they are ready to hatch. The babies are then born live. Litters can contain up to seven young rays.
The bluespotted ray is a brownish-gold in coloration, with vibrant electric blue spots over the upper surface of its flattened, oval shaped body. Its thick tail features blue stripes running along its edges. It is pale to white underneath, where its mouth and gills are located. Its large eyes are found on its dorsal side, with a spiracle located behind each eye. Spiracles are openings that ingest water for the ray to breathe, which is then pushed out through the gills.
Like many ray species, the bluespotted ray has a venomous spine (or two) behind its tail base, which it uses for defense. Though it usually prefers to swim away from threats, its spines can cause a painful sting if it chooses to use them.
The name “bluespotted ray” is actually applied to many different ray species. The other species most commonly associated with this name is Neotrygon kuhlii, also known as Kuhl’s ray or the blue-spotted maskray. It is found mostly from Indonesia to Japan, as well as Australia. It can be differentiated from Taeniura lymma by its more diamond shaped body with fewer blue spots, as well as its longer tail.
While it is currently listed in the same genus as the marbled ray (T. meyeni), some evidence indicates the bluespotted ray may be more closely related to the freshwater river stingrays found in the family Potamotrygonidae.
The bluespotted ray is a species of Least Concern, as it is widely distributed and fairly common within its range. However, as its coral reef habitat continues to be negatively affected by climate change and other human activities, there is the potential for harm to the bluespotted ray populations.
Their bright color makes them popular among aquarium hobbyists. However, they are a notably difficult species to keep in private aquariums. Public aquariums with larger tanks that are able to provide the ray with ample space have been much more successful.
References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bluespotted_ribbontail_ray
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kuhl%27s_maskray
https://oceana.org/marine-life/blue-spotted-ribbontail-ray/
https://www.floridamuseum.ufl.edu/discover-fish/species-profiles/taeniura-lymma/
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Incredible Creatures Blue Spotted Ray Figure