Potamotrygon is a genus of fresh water in the family Potamotrygonidae native to the rivers of South America,[ It inhabits rivers of Tropical climate and Subtropics climates, especially those of the Amazon basin and is virtually present in all South American countries, except for Chile.
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Like other stingrays, the fishes of this genus have barbs at the base of their tails, and their Stingray injury are dangerous to humans.[ It is said that the natives of South America fear the stingray more than they do fear the piranha.]
Potamotrygon vary considerably in color, pattern and size, with the maximum disc width ranging from in P. wallacei to in P. brachyura.[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.]
In the aquarium
Though freshwater stingray of other genera do appear in the trade, most are from Potamotrygon. They are best kept with a deep, sandy substrate, in which they bury themselves, often with only the eyes visible. They are not territorial with other animals and can be kept in groups, provided a large enough aquarium is provided. They are carnivorous bottom feeders and require strong filtration as they are rather sensitive to water conditions.
Species
There are currently more than 30 recognized extant (living) species in this genus:[
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Potamotrygon adamastor Fontenelle, J. P. & de Carvalho, M. R., 2017 (Branco river stingray)
[Fontenelle, J. P. & de Carvalho, M. R. (2017): Systematic revision of the "Potamotrygon scobina" Garman, 1913 species-complex (Chondrichthyes: Myliobatiformes: Potamotrygonidae), with the description of three new freshwater stingray species from Brazil and comments on their distribution and biogeography. Zootaxa, 4310 (1): 1–63.]
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Potamotrygon albimaculata M. R. de Carvalho, 2016 (Itaituba river stingray, Tapajós river stingray, "P14")
[Carvalho, M.R.d. (2016): Description of two extraordinary new species of freshwater stingrays of the genus Potamotrygon endemic to the rio Tapajós basin, Brazil (Chondrichthyes: Potamotrygonidae), with notes on other Tapajós stingrays. Zootaxa, 4167 (1): 1–63.]
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Potamotrygon amandae Loboda & M. R. de Carvalho, 2013 (Amanda's river stingray)
[Loboda, T.S. & Carvalho, M.R.d. (2013): Systematic revision of the Potamotrygon motoro (Müller & Henle, 1841) species complex in the Paraná-Paraguay basin, with description of two new ocellated species (Chondrichthyes: Myliobatiformes: Potamotrygonidae). Neotropical Ichthyology, 11 (4): 693–737.]
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Potamotrygon amazona Fontenelle, J. P. & de Carvalho, M. R., 2017 (Upper Amazon raspy river stingray)
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Potamotrygon boesemani R. S. Rosa, M. R. de Carvalho & Wanderley, 2008 (Boeseman's river stingray)
[Rosa, R.S., Carvalho, M.R.d. & Wanderley, C.d.A. (2008): Potamotrygon boesemani (Chondrichthyes: Myliobatiformes: Potamotrygonidae), a new species of Neotropical freshwater stingray from Surinam. Neotropical Ichthyology, 6 (1): 1–8.]
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Potamotrygon brachyura (Günther, 1880) (Short-tailed river stingray)
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Potamotrygon constellata (Vaillant, 1880) (Thorny river stingray)
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Potamotrygon falkneri Castex & Maciel, 1963 (Large-spot river stingray)
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Potamotrygon garmani Fontenelle, J. P. & de Carvalho, M. R., 2017 (Garman's river stingray)
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Potamotrygon henlei (Castelnau, 1855) (Big-tooth river stingray)
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Potamotrygon histrix (J. P. Müller & Henle, 1834) (Porcupine river stingray)
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Potamotrygon humerosa Samuel Garman, 1913 (Rough-back river stingray)
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Potamotrygon jabuti M. R. de Carvalho, 2016 (Pearl river stingray)
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Potamotrygon leopoldi Castex & Castello, 1970 (White-blotched river stingray)
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Potamotrygon limai Fontenelle, J. P. C. B. Silva & M. R. de Carvalho, 2014 (Zé Lima river stingray)
[Fontenelle, J.P., Silva, J.P.C.B.d. & Carvalho, M.R.d. (2014): Potamotrygon limai, sp. nov., a new species of freshwater stingray from the upper Madeira River system, Amazon basin (Chondrichthyes: Potamotrygonidae). Zootaxa, 3765 (3): 249–268.]
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Potamotrygon magdalenae (A. H. A. Duméril, 1865) (Magdalena river stingray)
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Potamotrygon marinae Pascal Deynat, 2006 (Marina's river stingray)
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Potamotrygon marquesi Silva & Loboda, 2019
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Potamotrygon motoro (J. P. Müller & Henle, 1841) (Ocellate river stingray)
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Potamotrygon ocellata (Engelhardt, 1912) (Red-blotched river stingray)
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Potamotrygon orbignyi (Castelnau, 1855) (Smooth-back river stingray)
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Potamotrygon pantanensis Loboda & M. R. de Carvalho, 2013 (Pantanal river stingray)
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Potamotrygon rex M. R. de Carvalho, 2016 (Great river stingray)
[Carvalho, M.R.d. (2016): Potamotrygon rex, a new species of Neotropical freshwater stingray (Chondrichthyes: Potamotrygonidae) from the middle and upper rio Tocantins, Brazil, closely allied to Potamotrygon henlei (Castelnau, 1855). Zootaxa, 4150 (5): 537–565.]
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Potamotrygon schroederi Fernández-Yépez, 1958 (Flower ray or rosette river stingray)
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Potamotrygon schuhmacheri Castex, 1964 (Parana river stingray)
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Potamotrygon scobina Samuel Garman, 1913 (Raspy river stingray)
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Potamotrygon signata Samuel Garman, 1913 (Parnaiba river stingray)
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Potamotrygon tatianae J. P. C. B. Silva & M. R. de Carvalho, 2011 (Tatiana's river stingray)
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Potamotrygon tigrina M. R. de Carvalho, Sabaj Pérez & Lovejoy, 2011 (Tiger river stingray)
[Carvalho, M.R.d., Sabaj Pérez, M.H. & Lovejoy, N.R. (2011): Potamotrygon tigrina, a new species of freshwater stingray from the upper Amazon basin, closely related to Potamotrygon schroederi Fernandez-Yépez, 1958 (Chondrichthyes: Potamotrygonidae). Zootaxa, 2827: 1–30.]
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Potamotrygon wallacei M. R. de Carvalho, R. S. Rosa & M. L. G. Araújo, 2016 (Cururu ray)
[Carvalho, M.R.d., Rosa, R.S. & Araújo, M.L.G. (2016): A new species of Neotropical freshwater stingray (Chondrichthyes: Potamotrygonidae) from the Rio Negro, Amazonas, Brazil: the smallest species of Potamotrygon. Zootaxa, 4107 (4): 566-586.]
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Potamotrygon yepezi Castex & Castello, 1970 (Maracaibo river stingray)
Extinct (fossil) species
These species are extinct and only known from Tertiary period fossil remains:[Chabain, Jules; Pierre-Olivier Antoine; Ali J. Altamirano-Sierra; Laurent Marivaux; François Pujos; Rodolfo Salas Gismondi; Sylvain Adnet (2017). Cenozoic batoids from Contamana (Peruvian Amazonia) with focus on freshwater potamotrygonins and their paleoenvironmental significance. Geobios 50: 389–400. ]
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† Potamotrygon canaanorum
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† Potamotrygon contamanensis
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† Potamotrygon rajachloeae
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† Potamotrygon ucayalensis
