Taeniurops

Blotched Fantail Rays are generally solitary but may aggregate in areas rich in food or during certain seasons. They are bottom dwellers, spending most of their time gliding near sandy or muddy sea floors, feeding on fish, crustaceans, and mollusks. Rays are known to be cautious and shy, often avoiding divers despite their large size.

This species is ovoviviparous, meaning embryos develop inside the mother and are nourished by yolk until birth. Females typically give birth to a small litter of live pups after a long gestation period. Newborn rays resemble miniature adults and begin independent life immediately.

The Blotched Fantail Ray can reach up to 1.8 meters (6 feet) in disc width and over 3 meters (10 feet) in overall length with its tail. Its distinctive blotched pattern helps with camouflage on the ocean floor. The tail contains one or more venomous barbs used for defense, and like many large rays, they have powerful, smooth swimming motions.

This species has been recognized across the Indo-Pacific region for centuries, often appearing in local folklore and traditional fishing knowledge. Historically, it has been misidentified due to its resemblance to other large stingray species until modern taxonomy clarified its classification.

The Blotched Fantail Ray is listed as Vulnerable due to declines caused by bycatch, targeted fishing, habitat degradation, and slow reproductive rates. Conservation efforts emphasize protecting coastal and reef habitats and reducing fishing pressure to prevent further population declines.