WHATSTHATFISH
Sharks & rays

Indian Ocean Blue-spotted Maskray

Neotrygon caeruleopunctata

Also known as: Blue-spotted Maskray, Maskray, Indian Ocean Maskray, Spotted Stingray, Whip Stingray

LCLeast ConcernIUCN Red List, 2021
Adult
@Jorge · Lombok Island, Indonesia · June 20171 / 2
01

Overview

Found singly, often resting on sandy bottoms, close to or under ledges and rocks with just their tail showing, or almost completely covered in sand with just the eyes and tail visible, over shallow lagoons, reef flats, and seaward reefs.
Indian Ocean - Southern Indonesia

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)

02

How to identify

Fins & Tail
stripe tail

Tap any trait to see other fish that share it.

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Habitat & where to find it

  • Range · Indian Ocean
  • Country only · 2
LIVES IN

Found singly, often resting on sandy bottoms, close to or under ledges and rocks with just their tail showing, or almost completely covered in sand with just the eyes and tail visible, over shallow lagoons, reef flats, and seaward reefs.

04

Adult photos 2

05

Discussion

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    ALL STAGES
    FOR THE MARINE-BIOLOGY CURIOUS

    Deep dive

    Taxonomy

    1. kingdomAnimalia
    2. phylumChordata
    3. classElasmobranchii
    4. orderMyliobatiformes
    5. familyDasyatidae
    6. genusNeotrygon
    7. speciesNeotrygon caeruleopunctata Last, White & Serét, 2016

    SourcesWoRMSFishBase

    06

    More in the family

    Stingrays (Dasyatidae)