Bluespotted ribbontail ray

Taeniura lymma · The bluespotted ribbontail ray is a small stingray with electric blue spots that lives around coral reefs in the tropical Indian and western Pacific Oceans.

Also called Ribbontailed stingray, Bluespotted Ribbontail, Blue-spotted Stingray.

Bluespotted ribbontail ray
Photo: Jens Petersen, CC BY 2.5
Bluespotted ribbontail ray
Photo: Rickard Zerpe, CC BY 2.0
Bluespotted ribbontail ray
Photo: Diego Delso, CC BY-SA 4.0

Taxonomy

KingdomAnimalia
PhylumChordata
ClassChondrichthyes
OrderMyliobatiformes
FamilyDasyatidae
GenusTaeniura
SpeciesTaeniura lymma

Where it lives

Shallow coral reefs of the tropical Indo-Pacific, from the Red Sea to the Solomon Islands.

Fun facts

  • When threatened, this ray flees at high speed in a zigzag pattern to throw off pursuers.
  • This ray has been seen asking for a cleaning from cleaner wrasse by raising the edges of its disc and pelvic fins.
  • Goatfish often follow foraging rays, hoping to snatch food the ray missed.
  • During the day, the ray hides alone in caves or under coral ledges, sometimes with only its tail sticking out.

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Facts and taxonomy adapted from Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0).