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Elasmobranchii (sharks and rays) > Myliobatiformes (Stingrays) > Potamotrygonidae (River stingrays)
Etymology: Potamotrygon: Greek, potamos = river + Greek, trygon = a sting ray (Ref. 45335).

Environment / Climate / Range Ecology

Freshwater; benthopelagic; dH range: 10 - ?; potamodromous (Ref. 51243). Subtropical; 24°C - 26°C (Ref. 12468), preferred ?

Distribution Countries | FAO areas | Ecosystems | Occurrences | Point map | Introductions | Faunafri

South America: Paraná-Paraguay River basin.

Size / Weight / Age

Maturity: L_m ? range ? - ? cm
Max length : 40.0 cm WD male/unsexed; (Ref. 27188); max. published weight: 15.0 kg (Ref. 27548)

Occurs in marshy zones where it is frequently found partially hidden in the sandy bottom. This behavior, associated with its perfect immobility and its capacity to undergo homochromy, makes it practically undetectable to the eye. Like all species of this family, P. hystrix has a tail which is equipped with one or more spines which fall spontaneously and are replaced 2 or 3 times a year. At a length of 4 to 6 cm, the spine is a barbed, flattened skeletal formation inserted dorsally in the middle portion of the tail. Its structure is similar to that of a tooth and appears as an ivory cone covered with enamel. The spine is coated with an extremely toxic mucus produced by the cells of the skin and inflicts very painful wounds (Ref. 27188).

Life cycle and mating behavior Maturity | Reproduction | Spawning | Eggs | Fecundity | Larvae

Main reference Upload your references | References | Coordinator : Carvalho, Marcelo | Collaborators

Compagno, L.J.V., 1999. Checklist of living elasmobranchs. p. 471-498. In W.C. Hamlett (ed.) Sharks, skates, and rays: the biology of elasmobranch fishes. Johns Hopkins University Press, Maryland. (Ref. 35766)

IUCN Red List Status (Ref. 115185)

Data deficient (DD)

CITES (Ref. 94142)

Not Evaluated

Threat to humans

Harmless

Human uses

Fisheries: minor commercial; aquarium: public aquariums

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More information

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Common names
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Fecundity
Eggs
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Age/Size
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Internet sources

Potamotrygon hystrix (Müller & Henle, 1841)