Taeniurops meyeni
Silhouette: Roberto Díaz Sibaja · PhyloPic
In 3 days >90%
The round ribbontail ray, blotched fantail ray, marble ray, or marbled ray (Taeniurops meyeni) is a species of stingray in the family Dasyatidae, found throughout the nearshore waters of the tropical Indo-Pacific, as well as off islands in the eastern Pacific. It is a bottom-dwelling inhabitant of lagoons, estuaries, and reefs, generally at a depth of 20–60 m (66–197 ft). Reaching 1.8 m (5.9 ft) across, this large ray is characterized by a thick, rounded pectoral fin disc covered by small tubercles on top, and a relatively short tail bearing a deep ventral fin fold. In addition, it has a variable but distinctive light and dark mottled pattern on its upper surface, and a black tail.
Generally nocturnal, the round ribbontail ray can be solitary or gregarious, and is an active predator of small, benthic molluscs, crustaceans, and bony fishes. It is aplacental viviparous, with the embryos sustained by yolk, and later histotroph ("uterine milk") secreted by the mother; up to seven pups are born at a time. Although not aggressive, if provoked the round ribbontail ray will defend itself with its venomous tail spine, and it has been responsible for at least one fatality. It is valued by ecotourist divers and recreational anglers. This slow-reproducing species is threatened by commercial fishing, both targeted and bycatch, and habitat degradation across much of its range. As a result, the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) has assessed it as Vulnerable. Wikipedia →
| # | Park | Country | Daily sighting probability |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Isla del Coco National Park | 🇨🇷 Costa Rica | |
| 2 | Galápagos Islands | 🇪🇨 Ecuador | |
| 3 | Ningaloo Marine Park | 🇦🇺 Australia |
No species of the same family or order lives in Isla del Coco National Park, so these are its closest relatives here: other sharks & rays.
Very likely
About 80% of wildlife watchers report a Blotched Fantail Ray sighting in Isla del Coco National Park on a given day, based on 35 verified sightings from GBIF citizen-science data from 2019 to 2026. Over three days the chance rises to over 90%, if each day is a fresh chance.
June–July and December–January
In those months about 90% of wildlife watchers report a Blotched Fantail Ray in Isla del Coco National Park on a given day, against about 40% in March, the lowest month. February, April–May and August–October have too few records to rate.
Between 9 am and noon
Across all the parks we cover, that three-hour window holds the most Blotched Fantail Ray sightings with a recorded time, and about 8 in 10 of them come between 6 am and 6 pm: it is a daytime animal.
Yes
Of the 3 parks where we can rate Blotched Fantail Ray sightings, Isla del Coco National Park has the highest daily chance: about 80%. Next come Galápagos Islands (Ecuador, about 40%) and Ningaloo Marine Park (Australia, about 30%).
GBIF citizen-science records
It is estimated from how often the Blotched Fantail Ray is recorded against all the sharks and rays logged in Isla del Coco National Park (35 verified sightings from 2019 to 2026), calibrated against known sighting rates. Figures are rounded to the nearest 10% because citizen-science data supports honest approximations, not decimals, and months with records from fewer than five people show "—". How it works.
