Taeniurops meyeni
Silhouette: Roberto Díaz Sibaja · PhyloPic
In 3 days ~60% in a week ~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 |
Possible
About 30% of wildlife watchers report a Blotched Fantail Ray sighting in Ningaloo Marine Park on a given day, based on 14 verified sightings from GBIF citizen-science data from 2019 to 2026. It is the 14th most-seen of the 24 sharks and rays we can rate there. Over three days the chance rises to about 60%, and over a week to about 90%, if each day is a fresh chance.
August
In that month about 50% of wildlife watchers report a Blotched Fantail Ray in Ningaloo Marine Park on a given day, against under 5% in October and November, the lowest months. That is one of Ningaloo Marine Park's driest months, with about 10 mm of rain against 50 mm in June.
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.
3rd of 3
Of the 3 parks where we can rate Blotched Fantail Ray sightings, Ningaloo Marine Park ranks 3rd at about 30%. The best odds are in Isla del Coco National Park (Costa Rica, about 80%) and Galápagos Islands (Ecuador, about 40%).
Same family: Dasyatidae
The closest relatives of the Blotched Fantail Ray that you can see in Ningaloo Marine Park (family Dasyatidae, Whiptail Stingrays) are Reef ray (about 70%), Broad Cowtail Stingray (about 50%) and Dragon stingray (about 30%), with each one's daily chance of a sighting.
GBIF citizen-science records
It is estimated from how often the Blotched Fantail Ray is recorded against all the sharks and rays logged in Ningaloo Marine Park (14 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.
