description Kuhl's Maskray Overview
Kuhl's maskray (Neotrygon kuhlii), also known as the blue-spotted stingray, is a small cartilaginous fish belonging to the family Dasyatidae. Originally described by Müller and Henle in 1841, it inhabits shallow coastal waters and coral reefs across the Indo-Pacific region from the Red Sea to Australia and southern Japan. The stingray is distinguished by its pale dorsal surface, which is covered in scattered, vivid blue spots, and it possesses one or two venomous tail spines used for defense. This species is benthic, frequently burying itself in sandy seabeds to ambush prey or avoid predators.
help Kuhl's Maskray FAQ
Why is Kuhl's maskray also called the blue-spotted stingray?
Neotrygon kuhlii has small blue spots on its upper disc and a dark mask-like marking around the eyes. It is also called the blue-spotted maskray or Kuhl's stingray in fish references. [FishBase field guide](https://fishbase.se/Fieldguide/FieldGuideSummary.php?c_code=608&genusname=Neotrygon&speciesname=kuhlii)
Where is Kuhl's maskray found?
It lives in shallow Indo-Pacific coastal habitats, including sandy bottoms near rocky or coral reefs and lagoons. Modern taxonomy treats the traditional Neotrygon kuhlii name as part of a species complex, so older range maps may combine several regional species. [Zootaxa taxonomy study](https://www.mapress.com/zt/article/view/zootaxa.4083.4.5)
What does Kuhl's maskray eat?
FishBase records it feeding on crabs and shrimps while resting on sandy bottoms near reefs. It can cover itself with sand, leaving mainly its eyes and tail visible. [FishBase biology notes](https://fishbase.se/summary/Dasyatis-kuhlii.html)
Does Kuhl's maskray have a venomous spine?
Yes. It has a venomous tail spine, and FishBase lists it as a species capable of inflicting a painful wound. The same source gives a recorded maximum length of about 70 centimetres total length. [FishBase field guide](https://fishbase.se/Fieldguide/FieldGuideSummary.php?c_code=608&genusname=Neotrygon&speciesname=kuhlii)
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