Stingray

Taeniura lymma

The bluespotted ribbontail ray is a stingray of the family Dasyatidae, common throughout the tropical Indian and western Pacific Oceans in nearshore, coral-reef habitats from the intertidal zone down to 30 m (100 ft). It is a fairly small ray, no more than 35 cm (14 in) across, with a smooth oval pectoral-fin disc, large protruding eyes and a relatively short, thick tail bearing a deep fin fold underneath.

Family

Dasyatidae

Avg Size

25-35 cm

Habitat

Widespread in the nearshore waters of the tropical Indo-Pacific, it ranges around the rim of the Indian Ocean from South Africa to the Arabian Peninsula and on to Southeast Asia, taking in Madagascar, Mauritius, Zanzibar, the Seychelles, Sri Lanka and the Maldives, though it is rare in the Persian Gulf and Gulf of Oman. In the Pacific it occurs from the Philippines to northern Australia and around many Melanesian and Polynesian islands as far east as the Solomon Islands.

Behaviour

One of the most abundant stingrays on Indo-Pacific reefs, it generally passes the day alone in caves or beneath coral ledges and other debris, often with only its tail showing. At night small groups gather and ride the rising tide onto shallow sandy flats to feed, and unlike many stingrays it rarely buries itself. It digs sand pits to find molluscs, polychaete worms, shrimps, crabs and small bottom-dwelling fish, trapping located prey beneath its body and working it into the mouth with the disc.

Stingray

Where & When to See It

More Rays & Mantas