Neotrygon kuhlii

Blue Spotted Rays are known for their benthic lifestyle, preferring to stay close to the sandy bottoms of their shallow tropical and subtropical marine habitats. They are active predators, mainly feeding during the night on small fish, worms, crustaceans, and mollusks. During the day, they often hide under sand or within coral reefs for camouflage against predators.

Blue Spotted Rays are ovoviviparous, meaning the eggs develop and hatch inside the female's body, and she gives birth to live young. The reproductive habits include the female giving birth to litters of up to seven pups, following a gestation period that is not precisely determined but is believed to last several months.

These rays are relatively small, typically reaching about 70 cm (27.5 inches) in width. They are most notable for their bright blue spots on a dark or olive green background, which serve as a warning to potential predators about their venomous nature. Blue Spotted Rays have a rounded body shape with pointed snouts and long, slender tails equipped with one or more venomous spines for defense.

Blue Spotted Rays have not been extensively studied in terms of their historical distribution or population trends. However, they have always been a common sight in the coral reefs and shallow coastal waters of the Indo-Pacific region.

The conservation status of the Blue Spotted Ray is currently listed as "Data Deficient" by the IUCN Red List, indicating that there is insufficient information available to make a direct or indirect assessment of its risk of extinction. They face threats from habitat destruction, pollution, and bycatch in fisheries. Conservation measures specific to this species are limited due to the lack of data, but efforts to protect marine habitats in general benefit a wide range of species, including the Blue Spotted Ray.