Taeniura lymma (Fabricius, 1775)
Ribbontail stingray
Taeniura lymma
photo by Field, R.

Family:  Dasyatidae (Stingrays), subfamily: Neotrygoninae
Max. size:  35 cm WD (male/unsexed)
Environment:  reef-associated; marine; depth range 0 - 20 m
Distribution:  Indo-West Pacific: Persian Gulf (Ref.80050); Red Sea and East Africa to the Solomon Islands, north to southern Japan (Ref. 9710), south to northern Australia.
Diagnosis:  A colorful stingray with large bright blue spots on an oval, elongated disc and with blue side-stripes along the tail; snout rounded and angular, disc with broadly rounded outer corners, and tail stout, tapering and less than twice body length when intact, with a broad lower caudal finfold reaching the tail tip; disc with no large thorns but with small, flat denticles along midback (in adults); usually 1 medium-sized sting on tail further behind base than in most stingrays (Ref. 5578). Grey-brown to yellow, olive-green or reddish brown dorsally, white ventrally (Ref. 5578).
Biology:  Occurs around coral reefs (Ref. 6871, 58534). Migrates in groups into shallow sandy areas during the rising tide to feed on mollusks, worms, shrimps, and crabs; disperses on falling tide to seek shelter in caves and under ledges (Ref. 6871). Rarely found buried under the sand (Ref. 12951). Ovoviviparous (Ref. 50449). Small specimens are popular among marine aquarists (Ref. 5578). Does not do well in aquariums (Ref. 12951). Maximum length about 70 cm TL (Ref. 30573). Reports of specimens reaching 240 cm TL are probably inaccurate (Ref. 6871). Commonly caught by fisheries operating over shallow coral reefs and probably adversely affected by dynamite fishing. Utilized widely for its meat (Ref.58048). Minimum depth reported taken from Ref. 86942.
IUCN Red List Status: Least Concern (LC); Date assessed: 01 September 2020 Ref. (130435)
Threat to humans:  venomous


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