Ribbontailed stingray

Description

The bluespotted ribbontail ray (Taeniura lymma) is a species of stingray in the family Dasyatidae.Found from the intertidal zone to a depth of 30 m (100 ft),this species is common throughout the tropical Indian and western Pacific Oceans in nearshore,coral reef-associated habitats.It is a fairly small ray,not exceeding 35 cm (14 in) in width,with a mostly smooth,oval pectoral fin disc,large protruding eyes,and a relatively short and thick tail with a deep fin fold underneath.It can be easily identified by its striking color pattern of many electric blue spots on a yellowish background,with a pair of blue stripes on the tail.The pectoral fin disc of the bluespotted ribbontail ray is oval in shape,around four-fifths as wide as long,with a rounded to broadly angular snout.The large,protruding eyes are immediately followed by the broad spiracles.There is a narrow flap of skin between the nares with a fringed posterior margin,reaching past the mouth.The lower jaw dips at the middle and deep furrows are present at the mouth corners.There are 15–24 tooth rows in either jaw,arranged into pavement-like plates,and two large papillae on the floor of the mouth.The pelvic fins are narrow and angular.The thick,depressed tail measures about 1.5 times the disc length and bears one or two (usually two) serrated spines well behind the tail base;there is a deep fin fold on the ventral surface,reaching the tip of the tail,and a low midline ridge on the upper surface.The skin is generally smooth,save for perhaps a scattering of small thorns on the middle of the back.The dorsal coloration is striking,consisting of numerous circular,neon blue spots on a yellowish brown or green background;the spots vary in size,becoming smaller and denser towards the disc margin.The tail has two stripes of the same blue running along each side as far as the spines.The eyes are bright yellow and the belly is white.Individuals found off southern Africa may lack the blue tail stripes.The bluespotted ribbontail ray grows to 35 cm (14 in) across,80 cm (31 in) long,and 5 kg (11 lb).