The bluespotted ribbontail ray (Taeniura lymma) is a small ray that is easily recognized by its numerous bright blue spots. It lives in the tropical waters of the Indo-Pacific, mainly around coral reefs and in shallow coastal areas.

Despite its bright colors, it is elusive and spends part of the day hiding in caves or beneath reef rocks. It feeds on small animals living on the seafloor and uses its venomous spine for defense when it feels threatened.

The bluespotted ribbontail ray has a flattened, oval-shaped disc, with broad pectoral fins surrounding the head. Its back is generally yellowish brown, olive, or reddish brown and covered with numerous large, bright blue spots, while its underside is white. Its slender, tapering tail is longer than its body and has blue stripes along the sides. A venomous spine is usually present at the base of the tail. The largest individuals can reach a disc width of up to 14 inches.

Its eyes and spiracles, which allow it to breathe, are located on top of its head. This position allows it to rest on the seafloor while breathing without directly drawing in sand.

The bluespotted ribbontail ray inhabits the tropical waters of the western Indo-Pacific, from the Persian Gulf, Red Sea, and coast of East Africa to the Solomon Islands. It is found in particular in the Maldives, Seychelles, Bali, Raja Ampat, and the Philippines. Its range extends north to southern Japan and south to northern Australia.

The bluespotted ribbontail ray is mainly found in shallow water, generally from the surface to around 66 feet deep, around coral reefs, on sandy seafloors, and in areas where corals provide shelter.

As the tide comes in, it sometimes moves in groups toward shallow sandy areas to feed. As the tide goes out, it returns to the reef and takes shelter in caves or beneath ledges.

The bluespotted ribbontail ray feeds on small animals living on the seafloor, including mollusks, marine worms, shrimp, and crabs, as well as small fish.

It searches for prey by slowly moving over the seafloor or probing through the sand. It may also lie in wait, partially buried, to capture small animals that pass nearby.

The bluespotted ribbontail ray is ovoviviparous, and the female can give birth to up to seven pups.

The bluespotted ribbontail ray has a respiratory system particularly well adapted to life on the seafloor. It draws seawater in through its spiracles, located on top of its head, and then expels it through its gill slits beneath its body. This allows it to breathe while resting on the seafloor without drawing sand into its gills.

The long tail of the bluespotted ribbontail ray bears a venomous spine capable of inflicting a very painful sting. However, it does not use this spine to hunt: it is primarily a means of defense when the ray feels threatened.

The bluespotted ribbontail ray is listed as many other marine species within The IUCN Red List of threatened species. The bluespotted ribbontail ray appears in the IUCN Red List since 2021 within the category Least Concern !