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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.
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St. John's Island, Aug 08
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Spine near the end of the tail.
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St. John's Island, Aug 08
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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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