The bluespotted ribbontail ray The bluespotted ribbontail ray. The Blue-spotted Ribbontail Ray is found in the Indo-West Pacific region growing up to 35cm in length. It can be found from to the inter-tidal zone to a depth of at least 65 ft (20 m). Did you know? http://ow.ly/HoEaH, Creature Feature: Blue-spotted Ribbontail Ray, Oceana Teams Up with One More Generation to Save Sea Turtles, Drawing a Line in the Sand against Seismic Airgun Blasting and East Coast Drilling, Historic Protections for Alaska’s Northern Bering Sea and Bering Strait. A bluespotted ribbontail ray (Taeniura lymma) photographed while scuba diving at Sweet Bongoyo off the coast of Dar es Salaam. Also known as the blue-spotted fantail ray, these vibrantly-colored creatures are found on coral reefs throughout the Indian and western Pacific oceans. It has yet to be determined if these rays are actually se… In Australian waters, this ray is widespread and common, ranging from north of Port Stephens in New South Wales to Shark Bay off western Australia. However, they do possess two venomous spines on their tail that can cause a very painful. Common Names: Blue spotted ribbontail ray, Blue spotted fantail ray, Blue spotted stingray. They frequent the coral reefs and sandy flats in the Indo-Pacific Ocean, keeping close to the seafloor where they feed. This sting ray uses their eyes that are on the top surface of the ray, which allows them to see prey moving above them, while they hide on the ocean floor. Shark Fact Friday #8: Will the real mobula ray please stand up? It has one or two venomous spines near the middle of the tail. In Australia it has been recorded from the central coast of Western Australia and to the northern tropics, and south to the northern coast of New South Wales. Shark Fact Friday 11.17.2017 – I’ve Got My Eye On You, Florida’s state marine mammal, the manatee, is falling prey to plastics, New scientific studies provide more reasons to stop the expansion of offshore drilling, Dirty and dangerous offshore drilling pollutes our ocean and coastal communities, Blocking the Expansion of Offshore Drilling Could Help Protect Coastal Communities from Climate Change, Deepwater Horizon disaster response fell short, leaving oil in the ocean and on the coast, Hurricane Season and Offshore Drilling Are a Reckless Combination, Protect our Oceans and Fisheries Progress. A great way to get involved in protecting #oceans: Join Oceana as a Wavemaker & sound off on important issues! Blue lines run from mid dorsum to tip of tail. Introduction: Blue spotted ribbon tail ray (Taeniura lymma) is a species of stingray in the family Dasyatidae. Up to seven pups can be born into a litter and each one is born with the distinctive blue markings of its parents. Mountain View So, the next time you come across a bluespotted stingray hiding away in a crevice on the reef, know that there’s more than meets the eye with this creature, and it’s far more complex than its outward appearance. It’s this feature that transforms this animal from an initial impression of a cute little ray to a fierce predator of the sea. Blue-spotted rays are threatened by destructive fishing practices, habitat loss, and the aquarium trade. We cannot be held responsible for any errors on the site and for any actions you may take after viewing its content. This stingray is found in a tropical climate at 29°N- … A variety of different color morphs resembling the bluespotted stingray have been recorded in the waters of the Indo-West Pacific. Oceana Convenes New International Partnership to Save Endangered Pacific Leatherback Sea Turtle. For more info on classifications visit www.iucnredlist.org. California 94041. These foragers dig in the sand, hunting shallow sand-dwelling animals like shrimp and crabs. Identification: Oval Yellow/brown disc covered in iridescent blue spots. Habitat: Inhabits the fringes of coral reefs and lagoons, seeking shelter in caves and under ledges. They move into shallow, sandy areas on the rising tide and then fall back into their hiding spots under a rock when the tide falls. Taeniura lymma, or bluespotted ribbontail stingray as it is most commonly known, is  a favorite for many divers, but don’t let the bluespotted ray fool you with its cute looks, its large yellow eyes peeping upwards from its oval-shaped body and angular front snout. It is also found north to Japan and south to Australia. Latin Name: Taeniura lymma. Instead, this ray makes sure that its brilliant blue spots are visible because they signal that the ray has a deadly defense—venomous spines in its blue-striped tail. Unlike other stingrays, the blue-spotted ray doesn’t bury itself in the sand to hide from predators. This is a common species of ray throughout the tropical Indian and western Pacific Oceans in nearshore, coral reef-associated habitats. Blue spotted ribbontail rays are named for the striking blue spots covering their body. The Bluewspotted Ribbontail Ray, as it is also called, will grow a total of 28" including the tail! They use specialised sensory organs to detect the electrical field of … If threatened, the ray can flip its tail and stab predators. They feed on mollusks, worms, shrimps and crabs. Blue-Spotted Stingray Back to All Animals This small stingray is widespread through the Indo-Pacific, where it hunts small crustaceans such as crabs and shrimp. This ray will bury itself in the sand to rest and hide from predators. This mutualistic relationship benefits both the stingray and its helpful cleaners—the ray stays healthy and the other creatures get an easy meal. Blue-spotted rays are also adept predators. Blue-spotted maskray range map. The Indo-PacificThese rays are shy around humans and will probably swim away If approached. Visit the Oceana adoption store to learn more, and check back for more Creatures Features on The Beacon. The Bluespotted Ribbontail Ray eats many things, such as sea worms, clams, mollusks, shrimp, snails and a variety of small fish. The reproduction is then ovoviviparous, meaning that females give birth to live pups that have hatched from egg cases inside the uterus. There are many different types of ray including stingrays, electric rays, butterfly rays, round rays, … But other than their ability to fly like a bird underwater and become masters of camouflage on the reef, how much do we really know about this creature? Blue Spotted Ribbontail Ray. The Bluespotted Ribbontail Ray is found across the near shores of the Indian ocean and in the west Pacific. They are found between depths of 2-30 meters. The bluespotted ribbontail ray is found in the Indo-West Pacific region including the Red Sea and East Africa to the Solomon Islands north to Japan and south to northern Australia. Kate Mara says it’s time to get deadly drift gillnets out of the water, and help save the whales. Please email, Choose an Eco-Friendly Operator for Your Next Dive, Mexico’s Best Dive Destinations Part 1: Socorro Island, Updates on the Tragic Death of Rob Stewart. Add your name now before more whales lose their lives in these indiscriminate nets. Bluespottted Stingrays stays relatively small in comparison to most ray species, but still require a 180 gallon or larger aquarium as an adult. The bluespotted stingray is found in the Indo-West Pacific region including the Red Sea and East Africa to Samoa and Tonga. Not mere decoration, those bright blue spots are meant to warn off predators and indicate that it’s venomous. Known scientifically as the Taeniura lymma, the bluespotted ribbontail ray is a small species of stingray that can be found throughout most shallow waters found within the tropical Indo-Pacific region.It can be found as shallow as the intertidal zone, to a maximum depth of around 30 metres. The blue-spotted ribbontail ray uses its sting to defend itself. Maximum length: 70 cm (28 in) Minimum aquarium size: 1,894 L (500 gal) Water: Marine 24 °C (75 °F) - 28 °C (82 °F) General swimming level: Bottom. Found from the intertidal zone to a depth of 30 m (100 ft), this species is common throughout the tropical Indian and western Pacific Oceans in nearshore, coral reef-associated habitats. Fun fact. It has a tan body with blue spots and stays relatively small, but requires a 150 gallon or larger aquarium as an adult. Cite this page as: This post is by a guest blogger. Without the secondary succession, the blue-spotted ribbontail ray wouldn't have been able to outcompete other species for food resources. The body will grow to just under 12" and this ray will need a tank that is beyond most aquarists reach. © 2020 All Rights Reserved. Found from the intertidal zone to a depth of 30 m (100 ft), this species is common throughout the tropical Indian and western Pacific Oceans in nearshore, coral reef-associated habitats. Bluespotted ribbontail rays are found primarily in shallow waters in the tropical Indian and western Pacific oceans, though they’ve been spotted near Australia and southern Africa as well. Also known as the Bluedot Ray. AMAZING: The Blue Spotted Ribbontail Ray | Oceana - YouTube The blue-spotted ribbontail ray is a type of ray commonly found near coral reefs in the Indian Ocean and western Pacific Ocean. The blue-spotted fantail ray, also known as the blue-spotted ribbontail ray, is common in shallow waters of the tropical Indo-West Pacific from South Africa to the Solomon Islands, including the Red Sea. Coastal Voices Part 7: Home Is Where The…Oil Is? They hunt for crabs, shrimp, and mollusks using electroreception, sensing the electric fields given off by other creatures. It is an attractive bottom dwelling fish. The information listed on this site is to be used as a reference and is only our opinion/suggestion. They are quite private creatures and prefer to live alone or in small groups. It has blue spots scattered all over its body, and a blue-edged stinging spine at the end of its tail. The bluespotted ray is primarily found in the Indo-Western Pacific region, and lives in depths of up to around 65 feet (20 m) across sandy and rocky sections of the reef. The Bluespotted Stingray is also called the Bluespotted Ribbontail Ray and Blue Dot Stingray. Blue Spotted Ribbontail Ray; Red List Status: Near Threatened. You can help Oceana protect these colorful creatures by adopting a blue-spotted ray for a friend or family-member this holiday season. Without the primary succession, the blue-spotted ribbontail ray couldn't even live in its habitat because that's how the coral reef was made. The bluespotted stingray, whether you’ve seen one up close on a dive or in films and TV documentaries, is one of the sea’s most easily identifiable creatures. Similar to bats using echolocation on land, bluespotted rays use electroreception underwater. Seismic airgun blasting threatens marine life, coastal communities and local economies. Diet. The animal uses a technique called electroreception, which is a way of detecting and sensing electrical fields produced by their prey. Sign up today to get weekly updates and action alerts from Oceana. In the Pacific Ocean, this species is found from the Philippines to northern Australia, as well as around numerous Melanesian and Polynesian islands a… They feed mainly on small fish, crabs, shrimps and mollusks, which is nothing unusual for a creature of the ocean; the way they hunt prey is, however, unique to the bluespotted ray. Reproduction is another distinct feature of the bluespotted stingray, with males using their sensitive noses to detect a chemical signal emitted by a female. The Bluespotted Stingray is also commonly referred to as the Bluespotted Ribbontail Ray and Blue Dot Stingray. They congregate in large numbers only when it comes to feeding. There is a broad skin fold under the tail, so it is sometimes called the Blue-spotted ribbontail ray. Blue-spotted ribbontail rays are found on sandy bottoms around coral reefs and are most abundant inshore. It is rare in the Persian Gulf and Gulf of Oman. Scuba Diver Life Forget the brown and gray stingrays that you’re used to—the blue-spotted ribbontail ray (Taeniura lymma) puts their drab coloring to shame with its olive skin and large, neon-blue spots. It can be easily identified by its striking color pattern … As resilient as they are in the ocean, ribbontail rays fare poorly in captivity, especially private aquariums. It is a fairly small ray, not exceeding 35 cm (14 in) in width, with a mostly smooth, oval pectoral findisc, large protruding eyes, and a relatively short and thick tail with a deep fin fold underneath. The rays then pin their prey down on the sand and crush it between two hard tooth plates in their mouths.Â. Taeniura lymma. Every spring large numbers are seen off the north coast of South Africa. Blue Spotted Stingray native habitat, distribution, behavior & aquarium compatibility. Natural Selection and Evolution of Blue-Spotted Ribbontail Stingrays It is said that stingrays and rays of all kind have evolved from sharks. To help its spots stay bright and visible, the blue-spotted ray visits “cleaning stations” on the coral reef, where small fish and shrimp pick bacteria and dead skin off the ray’s body. On the rising tide, large schools of Bluespotted Fantail Rays often forage over shallow sandy areas, seagrass habitats and rubble mudflats, feeding on invertebrates including molluscs, polychaete worms, crabs and shrimps. A tank that is over 300 gallons is needed to help them feel comfortable, along with a sandy bottom and only a ledge to take refuge under. The ray moves into shallow sandy areas with the rising tide to forage for snails and clams, worms, shrimps and crabs. Unlike other stingrays, the blue-spotted ray doesn’t bury itself in the sand to hide from predators. Widespread in the nearshore waters of the tropical Indo-Pacific region, the bluespotted ribbontail ray has a range that extends around the periphery of the Indian Ocean from South Africa to the Arabian Peninsula to Southeast Asia, including Madagascar, Mauritius, Zanzibar, the Seychelles, Sri Lanka, and the Maldives. 650 Castro Street Found from the intertidal zone to a depth of 30 m (100 ft), this species is common throughout the tropical Indian and western Pacific Oceans in nearshore, coral reef-associated habitats. The bluespotted ribbontail ray (Taeniura lymma) is a species of stingray in the family Dasyatidae. They are quite private creatures and prefer to live alone or in small groups. View all available Blue Spotted Ribbontail Ray Pictures in the Shark Pictures Database. We have already protected nearly 4 million square miles of ocean and innumerable sea life - but there is still more to be done. They congregate in large numbers only when it comes to feeding. The bluespotted ribbontail ray (Taeniura lymma) is a species of stingray in the family Dasyatidae. The bluespotted ray is primarily found in the Indo-Western Pacific region, and lives in depths of up to around 65 feet (20 m) across sandy and rocky sections of the reef. Found from the intertidal zone to a depth of 30 m (100 ft), this species is common throughout the tropical Indian and western Pacific Oceans in nearshore, coral reef-associated habitats. Also known as the blue-spotted fantail ray, these vibrantly-colored creatures are found on coral reefs throughout the Indian and western Pacific oceans. The ray’s short tail, a little less than twice its body length, features blue stripes running along either side, and towards the end it features a stinging spine. Tweet; Description: A species of stingray in the family Dasyatidae. It is also known as aka blue-spotted fantail rays, blue spotted stingrays, blue spotted rays, and ribbontail stingrays. The bluespotted ribbontail ray can be found in shallow temperate and tropical waters throughout. These rays like to bury themselves just underneath the sand where they feed on various invertebrates. What does it eat? Blue-spotted Ribbontail Ray The bluespotted ribbontail ray (Taeniura lymma) is a species of stingray in the family Dasyatidae. Bluespotted Ribbontail Ray, Bluespotted Stingray Description: ... Blue Dot Stingrays, unfortunately, frequently have a very short lifespan in captivity as most are purchased by people that are unwilling to take the extra time required to teach this animal to accept a captive diet. Family: Dasyatidae. The bluespotted stingray is commonly found in waters of depths about 0–90 meters (0–295 feet), being commonly found in sand and mudflats, but have also been encountered near rocky coral reefs, and sea grass beds. Cleaners—The ray stays healthy and the aquarium trade body, and help Save the whales on. 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