entry #6 Bluespotted ribbon tail ray

The Bluespotted ribbon tail ray is a striking species of stingray, named for the vibrant blue spots that cover its body They are often confused with the blue-spotted stingray which has a more angular disc and a slender tail. The blue-spotted ribbon tail rays are a mesmerizing creature inhabiting the sandy bottoms of the Indo-Pacific Ocean. Like other rays, it uses electroreception—a specialized sensory ability—to detect and precisely locate prey. A diet of Bluespotted ribbon tail rays consists of eating animals that are under the sand like worms, shrimp, crabs, and small fish. Unlike most rays, blue spotted ribbon tail rays will rarely bury themselves completely, though they sometimes will to ambush prey or when they migrate in large groups to shallow, sandy areas. 

 

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The bright blue spots running the length of the Bluespotted ribbon tail ray serve as a warning to predators, signaling the presence of its venomous barb at the tip of its tail. The venom that is in their tail can not only be life-threatening to other animals but also to humans. The maximum reported size of the bluespotted ribbontail ray is 12 inches (30 cm) disc width and a maximum total length of 28 inches(70 cm). Female Bluespotted ribbon tail rays can give birth to up to seven pups per litter, though the exact length of their gestation remains unknown. Remarkably, their young are born with the same vibrant blue spots that characterize the species. 

 

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