If you’ve had a giggle reading our blogs “How Do Fish Have Sex?” and “The Wild Sex Lives of Persian Carpet Flatworms,” you’ll know the ocean is absolutely teeming with weird and wonderful love stories. By throwing a bit of cheeky humour into the mix, we shine a light on a serious truth: reproduction is what keeps the underwater world buzzing, from fuelling food chains to helping coral reefs grow strong and protect our shores.
Understanding these oddball mating habits is more than a laugh; it’s the first step towards conservation.
But just when you thought marine romance couldn’t get any stranger... along comes the Blue-Spotted Ribbontail Ray, a vibrant, neon-spotted creature with a love life that’s part high-speed chase, part wrestling match, and totally unexpected.
First, the Fashion Statement
This ray isn’t just “blue-spotted” for fun; they play a key role in communication. These electric blue markings are a form of sexual signalling, indicating the ray’s health, vitality, and genetic fitness. In the animal kingdom, vibrant colours like these are often used to attract mates and show off strength!
Now the Courtship… It Gets Awkward
Let’s start with the basics; this is no delicate courtship dance. Oh no, the Blue-Spotted Ribbontail Ray’s idea of romance involves a high-speed chase and some intense biting. And no, we’re not talking about a love bite or gentle nibble... these guys get physical! The males will chase after females, biting at their pectoral fins (those wing-like flaps). We’re talking full-on underwater wrestling, a bit like a bad romance movie with a twist of WWE.
So, why the biting? Well, it's all part of the courtship routine. The male's bite shows he means business (or love?) and is basically saying, "I’m in it for the long haul." So, forget slow dancing or serenading - this romance is more about dominance and proving who’s got the best moves in the water.
So how does the male actually penetrate the female?
It all comes down to claspers - those are the male’s paired reproductive organs, located near the pelvic fins. During mating, the male uses his claspers to transfer sperm into the female’s cloaca (a shared opening used for reproduction and excretion).
But getting there isn’t exactly romantic...
Here's the (slightly dramatic) play-by-play:
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First, the male chases the female around - Nipping at her disc.
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Once he catches her, he bites onto her pectoral fin to hold her in place, it’s a bit rough and tumble!
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With his grip secure, he maneuvers himself alongside or underneath her to insert one clasper into her cloaca and deliver sperm.
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The actual penetration happens quickly, often lasting only a few seconds...
Oh, what a surprise! After all that dramatic circling, nudging, and tail-tapping, the actual act? Blink and you’ll miss it! But hey, there’s a reason for the speed: in the wild, hanging around mid-romance could mean becoming lunch for something bigger. So, rays keep it quick, efficient, and straight to the evolutionary point. It might not win any awards for passion, but it gets the job done- and that’s all that matters when you’re a bottom-dwelling, ambush-loving, venomous pancake with places to be.
The Mating Scene: Sneaky, Mysterious, and a Little Steamy
Once the mating match is over (or, should we say, during the match?), the rays get a bit mysterious. These lovebirds don’t go around shouting about their passion, they like to keep things under wraps. Literally. Blue-Spotted Ribbontail Rays often mate in secret, burying themselves in the sand or hiding in secluded spots on the ocean floor. So, good luck trying to catch them in the act...
Pregnancy Goals: Live Birth Like a Boss
Here’s where things get wild. Unlike many fish that lay eggs, this ray is ovoviviparous, which is a fancy way of saying the female grows the embryos inside her, nourished by yolk sacs, and gives birth to live little stingrays. Think tiny flying saucers, but make it adorable.
Each litter can have up to seven pups, born with working barbs and a fierce instinct to disappear into the sand. Because the ocean’s tough, and Mum’s got no time for babysitting.
Where to Find These Legends on Koh Tao
You can spot Blue-Spotted Rays chilling under coral ledges, buried in sand, or cruising the bottom like they own the place. Favourite hangouts include:
They’re most active at night - making them the low-key party animals of the reef. During the day, they hide under rocks, covering themselves with sand to stay camouflaged. Classic introvert behaviour.
Not All Love Stories Have Happy Endings
While they’re common around Koh Tao, their populations are declining due to habitat loss, overfishing, and the aquarium trade. People love how they look, and unfortunately, that makes them a target.
So next time you’re diving Koh Tao, hovering above a sandy patch and see that signature flash of blue, don’t just swim by, take a moment to appreciate one of the reef’s most iconic characters.
Fun Fact Round-Up
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They can grow up to 35 cm across, but their tails can reach over 70 cm!
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They’re part of the stingray family, but have very specific markings that make them unique.
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Their barbs are shed and regrown, just like shark teeth.
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They use electroreception to detect prey hidden in the sand. Basically, they’ve got built-in metal detectors in their face.
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They're surprisingly closely related to sharks, both belong to the group called "elasmobranchs".
