Potamotrygon

Potamotrygon
Potamotrygon motoro
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Chondrichthyes
Subclass: Elasmobranchii
Superorder: Batoidea
Order: Myliobatiformes
Family: Potamotrygonidae
Genus: Potamotrygon
Garman, 1877
Type species
Trygon hystrix
J. P. Müller & Henle, 1841

Potamotrygon is a genus of freshwater stingrays in the family Potamotrygonidae native to the rivers of South America,[1] and sometimes seen in the aquarium trade.[2] It inhabits rivers of tropical and subtropical climates, especially those of the Amazon basin and is virtually present in all South American countries, except for Chile.

Like other stingrays, the fishes of this genus have venomous barbs at the base of their tails, and their stings are dangerous to humans.[2] It is said that the natives of South America fear the stingray more than they do fear the piranha.[3]

Potamotrygon vary considerably in color, pattern and size, with the maximum disc width ranging from 31 cm (1 ft) in P. wallacei to 1.5 m (5 ft) in P. brachyura.[4][5]

  1. ^ Froese, Rainer; Pauly, Daniel (eds.). "Species in genus Potamotrygon". FishBase. September 2019 version.
  2. ^ a b Cite error: The named reference Dawes2001 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  3. ^ Axelrod, H.R. (1996). Exotic Tropical Fishes. T.F.H. Publications. ISBN 0-87666-543-1.
  4. ^ Cite error: The named reference Carvalho2016 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  5. ^ Oddone, M.C., G. Velasco & G. Rincon (2008). Occurrence of freshwater stingrays (Chondrichthyes: Potamotrygonidae) in the Uruguay River and its tributaries, Uruguay, South America. International Journal of Ichthyology 14 (2): 69-76.