Bluespotted Fantail Ray, Taeniura lymma (Forsskål 1775)

Other Names: Blue-spotted Fantail Ray, Blue-spotted Lagoon Ray, Blue-spotted Ray, Blue-spotted Ribbontail Ray, Blue-spotted Stingray, Fantail Ray, Lagoon Ray, Lagoon Ray, Lesser Fantail Ray, Reef Ray

Summary:

A small colourful stingray that is easily recognised by the large electric blue spots on the body and pair of blue stripes along the tail. Bluespotted Fantail Rays have large protruding eyes, and venomous spines positioned well back on the tail that may produce a very painful sting.

On the rising tide, large schools of Bluespotted Fantail Rays often forage over shallow sandy areas, seagrass habitats and rubble mudflats, feeding on invertebrates including molluscs, polychaete worms, crabs and shrimps.

Cite this page as:

Bray, D.J. 2017, Taeniura lymma in Fishes of Australia, accessed 23 Jan 2025, https://fishesofaustralia.net.au/home/species/2030

Bluespotted Fantail Ray, Taeniura lymma (Forsskål 1775)

More Info

Distribution	Known in Australian waters from Ningaloo Reef, Western Australia, to northern New South Wales. Elsewhere, widespread in the Indo-West-Central Pacific.
Features	Snout rounded, angular; disc with broadly rounded outer corners, with denticles along the middle of the back in adults, thorns absent; tail stout, tapering, less than twice body length, with a broad lower caudal finfold reaching the tail tip; usually two medium-sized venomous spines well back on the tail.
Size
Colour
Feeding
Biology	Reproductive mode - aplacental viviparous (ovoviviparous) with the developing embryos initially feeding on yolk, then absorbing uterine "milk" produced by the mother. Females produce up to seven young per litter, and the young are born with the characteristic blue spots.
Fisheries	Commonly caught byartisinal and small commercial fisheries around coral reefs in many parts of its range. Also traded in the aquarium industry, although Bluespotted Fantail Rays seldom thrive in captivity.
Conservation	Threatened in many parts of the world by overfishing and the destruction of reef habitats.
Remarks
Similar Species	Differs from the Bluespotted Maskray, Neotrygon kuhlii, by its more angular disc, more slender tail, electric blue spots on the body and blue stripes along each side of the tail.
Etymology
Species Citation	Raja lymma Forsskål 1775, Descriptiones animalium: 17. Type locality: Luhaiya, Yemen (as Lohaja), Red Sea.
Author	Bray, D.J. 2017

Bluespotted Fantail Ray, Taeniura lymma (Forsskål 1775)

References

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