Bluespotted ribbontail ray

Blaupunktrochen ( Taeniura lymma )

The blue spotted stingray ( Taeniura lymma ) is a species of the genus spot stingrays ( Taeniura ) in the family of stingrays ( Dasyatidae ).

Appearance

Blaupunktrochen reach a body length of 70 cm. The nearly circular, lenticular body is strongly flattened as in all rays. They have an arrow-shaped tail, which is as long as the body. In this tail, the two sting are housed. On the yellow top of the animals are the eponymous blue points, which pass on the tail in blue stripes. In order to camouflage the animals are to regulate the intensity of the eye-catching blue markings in the situation. The base is also yellow, but with white spots.

Dissemination

Blue spotted stingrays live in the Red Sea and the Indo-Pacific region, to Japan and Australia.

Habitat

Blue spotted stingrays are typical inhabitants of coral reefs. There, they prefer soft sandy soils on the sandy plateau and the caves in the reef. They dig in the sand for camouflage a. The animals are also often found on the reef flat, where they warm up in the sun in shallow water. Blaupunktrochen live between the sea surface and water depths of up to 40 m.

Nutrition

The animals seek their food, which consists of molluscs, shrimps and worms, at night or at high tide.

Reproduction

Blue spotted rays are ovoviviparous ( viviparous ).

Blue spotted stingrays and people

People against blue spotted stingrays are shy and non-aggressive. However, accidents with blue spotted stingrays are known. The animals are often well hidden in the sand near the beach. Then step Bathers on the animals, so they defend themselves with their venomous spines. Snorkelers in very shallow water are at risk because the animals can keep the big outline of the snorkeler for a robber and then seek to defend themselves accordingly. The poison of Blaupunktrochens is not fatal to humans if they are not allergic. The sting is very painful. Risk passes from the spines of itself, which are very sharp and quite large. With these, the Rays, especially with snorkelers in shallow water, injure internal organs.

Threat

Blaupunktrochen be hunted as a food fish and also for hunting and intense. This, and the loss and degradation of its habitat coral reef leads to the fact that its stock situation is likely to deteriorate. The World Conservation Union IUCN is the blue spotted stingray in the Red List of endangered species and classifies it as Near Threatened ( Near Threatened ).