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| fishes text index | photo index |
| Phylum Chordata > Subphylum Vertebrate > fishes > Order Rajiformes > Family Dasyatidae |
| Blue-spotted
fantail ray Taeniura lymma Family Dasyatidae updated Oct 08 Where seen? This beautiful stingray is sometimes encountered on sandy areas and in coral rubble near coral reefs on some of our shores. It is often also seen by divers. Sadly, it is also sometimes encountered trapped in a drift net. Features: Grows to about 30cm in diameter, those seen about 20cm. Body oval with a rounded snout. Body colour brown, grey, yellow, olive-green to reddish brown; with lots of obvious bright blue spots. Eyes sticking out of the flat body, with large spiracles behind the eyes. Tail long rather thick with two blue stripes along the length. There is a broad skin fold under the tail, so it is sometimes called the Blue-spotted ribbontail ray. Like other rays, it has one or two venomous spines near the middle of the tail. The spines are used to protect itself and not to capture prey. What does it eat? The ray moves into shallow sandy areas with the rising tide to forage for snails and clams, worms, shrimps and crabs. As the tide falls, it shelters in caves and under ledges. It is rarely found buried under sand. It is more active at night. Fantail ray babies: The ray gives birth to live young. Human uses: This stingray is harvested commercially as seafood. It is also considered an important gamefish for recreational fishermen. Small specimens are also taken for the aquarium trade, although they don't do well in captivity. Status and threats: Throughout its range, the Blue-spotted fantail ray is under pressure from over collection for the aquarium trade and destruction of its reef habitat. It is considered near threatened. |
 Oval body with rounded snout. Many bright blue spots. St. John's Island, Aug 08  Blue stripes along length of tail. |
 St. John's Island, Aug 08 |
 Spine near the end of the tail. |
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 St. John's Island, Aug 08 |
 Broad skin flap under the tail. |
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Blue-spotted fantail rays on Singapore shores
 Sisters Island, Jul 07 |
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Links
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The Nature Society (Singapore), Singapore. 343 pp.|
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