Blue-spotted stingray
📖 Overview
A solitary species found on sandy bottoms near rocky or coral reefs . Usually found in deeper water but moves onto the reef flat and into shallow lagoons at high tide . Occasionally covers itself with sand, leaving only its eyes and tail visible . Feeds on crabs and shrimps . Ovoviviparous . The venomous spine can inflict a painful wound. Caught in very large quantities in the bottom trawl, trammel and fish trap fisheries. Utilized for its meat but of limited value due to its small size . It is parasitised by the monogenean Dendromonocotyle kuhlii on the dorsal skin surface .
🔬 Taxonomy
🐟 Physical Description
This medium-sized Neotrygon of the kuhlii-complex (reaching at least 30 cm DW) is distinguished by the following set of characters: disc is broader than long, its width ca. 1.2 times length; pectoral apices are narrowly rounded; snout rather fleshy, broadly angular, its angle ca. 107°, its length 1.7-2.1 times interorbital width; maximum width is relatively well back on disc, the length from snout tip to pectoral-fin insertion 1.8-1.9 times and disc width 2.5-2.6 times horizontal distance from snout tip to maximum disc width; preoral length is 2.4-2.8 times mouth width; internasal distance is 1.5-1.8 in prenasal length; interspiracular distance is 13-15% DW; nostril length is 2.8-4.1% DW; nasal curtain width is 8-8.3% DW; mouth small, its width 6.4-6.8% DW; horizontal distance from cloaca to caudal sting base ca. 55% of disc length; nuchal region with thornlets, none from tail in all sizes; no dermal denticles; 113 pectoral-fin radials (based on new specimen); 133 total vertebral centra (including synarcual), 39 trunk centra (including synarcual); presence of blue spots that are very small and sparse, largest spot on disc 0.3-0.5 times eye width; median belt with 0-6 (mean 3.0) blue spots, largest ~2.1% DW; pronounced mask-like marking, not covered with dark peppery spots; ventral surface of disc and pelvic fins with broad dark greyish submarginal bands; when fresh, ventral tail fold and adjacent tail bluish grey .: other; Cross section: flattened.
🌀 Behaviour
Behavioural data for Blue-spotted stingray is currently being reviewed.
🦐 Diet
🥚 Reproduction
Exhibit ovoviparity (aplacental viviparity), with embryos feeding initially on yolk, then receiving additional nourishment from the mother by indirect absorption of uterine fluid enriched with mucus, fat or protein through specialised structures . Distinct pairing with embrace . Litters size at birth 16 cm ; Java form born at 11-16 cm WD, Bali form born at ~17 cm WD. Gives birth to litters of 1-2 pups; no reproductive synchronicity .
🌍 Habitat & Distribution
Marine; reef-associated; depth range 0 - 170 m , usually ? - 90 m . Tropical; 6°S - 12°S, 156°E - 164°E Southwest Pacific: Solomon Islands, but probably more widespread in Oceania (limits of its distribution need to be defined).
🌿 Ecology
crabs and shrimps (Ref
📐 Morphometrics
🌡️ Water Parameters & Tolerance
🛡️ Conservation Assessment
📊 Population Risk & Fisheries
⚠️ Venom Profile
- intense pain
- laceration
- oedema
- retained spine fragments possible
Wound care, imaging for retained spine, tetanus prophylaxis, antibiotic prophylaxis for marine wounds.
References: Compiled from Bhide (2018), Halstead et al. (1988) and family-specific envenomation literature
🎣 Angling Guide
- medium-heavy 7ft spinning rod
- 30-50 lb braid
- fluorocarbon leader
- grass flats
- oyster bars
- marsh drains
- deeper channel edges
Use barbless hooks, minimise air exposure, and revive fish head-first in current before release.
⚠️ Slot limits protect breeding-size fish. Verify daily bag limits.
🍽️ Edibility & Flavour
"Blue-spotted stingray is an edible species."
- Clear, bright eyes — cloudy eyes indicate age
- Firm flesh that springs back when pressed
- Fresh ocean smell, never strong or ammonia-like
- Bright red or pink gills, not grey or brown
- Shiny, moist skin with scales tightly attached
- Cloudy or sunken eyes
- Strong fishy or ammonia odour
- Soft, mushy flesh that doesn't spring back
- Discoloured or dry flesh
⚡ Nutrition
Per 100g cooked - Source: USDA FoodData Central
| Nutrient | Amount |
|---|---|
| Protein | 22.2 g |
| Omega-3 (total) | 117 mg |
🔬 Mercury Safety
Mercury data for Blue-spotted stingray has not yet been assigned. Please consult FDA/EPA guidance for general seafood safety advice.
🌿 Sustainability
🔬 Full Nutritional Profile
Per 100g - Raw, per 100g - Source: USDA FoodData Central templates (generic fish average)
📊 Population Dynamics
| Year | Region | Index | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| - | - | - |
🌐 Names & Taxonomy
| Language | Common Names |
|---|---|
| 🇬🇧English | Blue spotted stingray · Blue-spotted Maskray · Blue-spotted Stingaree · Bluespot Stingray · Bluespotted Maskray · Kuhl's Maskray · Kuhl's Stingray · Spotted stingray · blue-spotted stingray · Bluespotted Stingray |
| 🌍AFR | Bloukol-pylstert |
| 🇸🇦Arabic | Lukhmah |
| 🌍CES | trnucha vanicorská |
| 🇩🇰Danish | Kuhls pigrokke |
| 🇩🇪German | Grauer Stechrochen · Kuhls Stechrochen · Maskenstechrochen |
| 🌍EST | Sinitäpp-maskrai |
| 🌍FIJ | Vai · vai dina |
| 🇫🇮Finnish | safiirikeihäsrausku |
| 🇫🇷French | Pastenague à points bleus · Raie à points bleus · Requin raie |
| 🌍GUJ | Palwa |
| 🌍IND | Ali · Anin · Pari kodok |
| 🇮🇹Italian | Pastinaca mascherata di Kuhl · Trigone mascherato di Kuhl |
| 🌍JAV | Pari blentik · Pari macan |
| 🇯🇵Japanese | Yakko-ei · ヤッコエイ |
| 🇰🇷Korean | 꽁지가오리 |
| 🌍MAR | Pakat · पकात · पळवा |
| 🌍MSA | Ketuka · Kiampau · Pari lalat · Pari lanyau · Pari renyau · Pari riman · Pari rimau · Pari tanjung |
| 🌍MYA | Leik-kyauh sun-maung-shin |
| 🇳🇱Dutch | Grijze pijlstaartrog |
| 🇵🇹Portuguese | Uge ponteado |
| 🇷🇺Russian | Хвостокол японский (синепятнистый, Кюля) · хвостокол японский |
| 🌍SMO | Fai-malie · Fai-tala |
| 🌍SND | Chittipi-tan |
| 🌍TAM | Kunnoo-tirike · Kunoo-tirike · Pulli-thirukhai · குன்னு தீருக்கை · கூனுத் திருக்கை · புள்ளி திருக்கை · புள்ளீதீருக்கை |
| 🌍TEL | Shemen-tenkee · షిమెన్ టెంకీ |
| 🌍THA | ปลากระเบนจุดฟ้า |
| 🌍VIE | Cá Duôi Bông · Cá Đuối bông đuôi vằn |
| 🇨🇳Chinese | 古氏新魟 · 古氏新魟（古氏土魟） · 查某仔囝 · 沙帽子 · 肉絲魟 · 蝙仔 · 魴仔 |
🔍 Similar Species
🗺️ Global Occurrence Map
Occurrence records from the Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF) - 15 records indexed .
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