Bluespotted ribbontail ray

What it is

This species is a small stingray with an oval pectoral fin disc. It has large protruding eyes and a short, thick tail with a deep ventral fin fold. The skin is mostly smooth, marked by numerous electric blue spots on a yellowish or greenish background. Two blue stripes run along the tail sides. Adults reach about 35 cm in width and weigh up to 5 kg. It belongs to the family Dasyatidae and is easily recognised by its vivid colour pattern.

Where it lives

It inhabits nearshore waters across the tropical Indo-Pacific. Its range extends from South Africa and Madagascar around the Indian Ocean to the Arabian Peninsula and Southeast Asia. In the Pacific, it occurs from the Philippines to northern Australia and east to the Solomon Islands. It prefers coral reefs, adjacent sandy flats, and seagrass beds. It is rarely found deeper than 30 metres and often visits tidal pools and the intertidal zone.

How it lives

During the day, it hides alone in caves or under ledges. At night, small groups move onto shallow sandy flats with the rising tide to feed. It excavates sand pits to find molluscs, worms, crustaceans, and small fish. Other fishes often follow to scavenge missed prey. When threatened, it flees quickly in a zigzag pattern rather than burying itself. Predators include hammerhead sharks and bottlenose dolphins. It sometimes seeks cleaning from bluestreak cleaner wrasses.

Breeding and life cycle

Reproduction occurs from late spring to summer. Males bite and hold the female disc for copulation. The species is aplacental viviparous, meaning embryos develop inside the mother. They are initially sustained by yolk, then by uterine milk rich in fats and proteins. Gestation may last four to twelve months. Females give birth to litters of up to seven young, each measuring about 13 to 14 cm across. Males mature at a disc width of roughly 20 cm.

Fish and people

Its striking appearance makes it common in the home aquarium trade, though it rarely survives long in captivity. Many refuse to feed or die unexpectedly. Public aquariums have had more success, with some breeding programmes in Europe. It is eaten in East Africa, Southeast Asia, and Australia, caught via gillnets, spears, and traps. While timid, its venomous tail spines can cause painful wounds if stepped on or handled.

Status and threats

The IUCN lists it as Least Concern due to its wide distribution. However, populations face pressure from artisanal and commercial fisheries. Coral reef degradation from development and destructive fishing practices like cyanide use threatens its habitat. Local collecting for the aquarium trade also impacts numbers. Continued monitoring is needed as habitat quality declines across its range.

Questions people ask about Bluespotted ribbontail ray

Good reading and sources

• Bluespotted ribbontail ray on WikipediaEncyclopedia
• More photos on Wikimedia CommonsPhotos
• Wikidata recordOpen data