Bluespotted ribbontail ray

Photo: DZIVULA GUBE · CC BY-NC

One of the most visually striking rays on the Indo-Pacific reef, the bluespotted ribbontail ray rests half-buried in the sandy plateau at Pange and can be found in groups of up to 10 at the sandbank site. They forage by jetting water from their spiracles to expose molluscs and worms buried in the sand. Their long tail bears a highly venomous spine used exclusively in defence — rays pressed against the sand by an inattentive diver can strike upward, though incidents are easily avoided by maintaining a respectful distance.