Description

Also known as Bluedot Ray, Bluedot Stingray, Bluespot Stingray, Blue-spotted Fantail Ray, Blue-spotted Lagoon Ray, Blue-spotted Ray, Blue-spotted Reef Ray, Blue-spotted Reef Stingray, Blue-spotted Ribbontail Ray, Blue-spotted Ribbontail Whipray, Blue-spotted Stingray, Fantail Ray, Fantail Stingray, Lagoon Ray, Lesser Fantail Ray, Reef Ray, Ribbonray Fish, Ribbontail Ray, Ribbon-tailed Stingray.

Found singly or in shivers over shallow sandy areas sheltering in caves and under ledges and rocks of coral and rocky reefs. This beautiful solitary ray covered in blue spots with a blue band along the tail, often buried in sand with just the eyes showing.
They feed on crustaceans, molluscs and worms.
Length - 35cm
Depth - 1-20m
Widespread Indo-West Pacific

Rays are bottom feeders, they settle themselves down over their prey, trapping them against the substrate with their disc, then flexing their disc flaps and manoeuvring the victims into their mouths.
Most rays live in the sea, but some can be found in estuaries, often hard to see as they can be buried in the sand, occasionally they can be seen leaping out of the water.
As a form of defence rays have electric organs while others have venomous spines.
Usually rays will swim out of harms way if approached, however they can give a nasty sting which could prove fatal.
Never swim over the top of large rays, they think you are a predator and are likely to whip their tails in defense! (as happened to Steve Irwin) Ref: https://www.fishbase.se/summary/5399