Potamotrygon

{{Short description|Genus of cartilaginous fishes}} {{Automatic taxobox | name = ''Potamotrygon'' | fossil_range = {{fossil range|Middle Eocene|present}} | image = Potamotrygon adventure aquarium.jpg | image_caption = ''Potamotrygon motoro'' | taxon = Potamotrygon | authority = Garman, 1877 | type_species = ''Trygon hystrix'' | type_species_authority = J. P. Müller & Henle, 1841 }}

'''''Potamotrygon''''' is a genus of freshwater stingrays in the family Potamotrygonidae native to the rivers of South America,<ref name=FishBase>{{FishBase genus|genus=Potamotrygon|year=2019|month=September}}</ref> and sometimes seen in the aquarium trade.<ref name=Dawes2001/> 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.<ref name=Dawes2001/> It is said that the natives of South America fear the stingray more than they do fear the piranha.<ref name=Axelrod1996>{{cite book | title = Exotic Tropical Fishes | author = Axelrod, H.R. | publisher = T.F.H. Publications. | year = 1996 | isbn = 0-87666-543-1 }}</ref>

''Potamotrygon'' vary considerably in color, pattern and size, with the maximum disc width ranging from {{convert|31|cm|ft|abbr=on|0}} in ''P. wallacei'' to {{convert|1.5|m|ft|abbr=on|0}} in ''P. brachyura''.<ref name=Carvalho2016/><ref>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.</ref>

==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.<ref name=Dawes2001>{{cite book | title = Complete Encyclopedia of the Freshwater Aquarium | author = Dawes, J. | publisher = Firefly Books Ltd. | location = New York | year = 2001 | isbn = 1-55297-544-4 }}</ref> Many species of stingray have been bred in captivity and males can be determined by the presence of claspers as in other Chondrichthyans.

==Species== There are currently more than 30 recognized extant (living) species in this genus:<ref name=FishBase/>

* ''Potamotrygon adamastor'' Fontenelle, J. P. & de Carvalho, M. R., 2017 (Branco river stingray)<ref name=Fontenelle2017>Fontenelle, J. P. & de Carvalho, M. R. (2017): [https://biotaxa.org/Zootaxa/article/view/zootaxa.4310.1.1 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.''</ref> * ''Potamotrygon albimaculata'' M. R. de Carvalho, 2016 (Itaituba river stingray, Tapajós river stingray, "P14")<ref name=Carvalho2016b>Carvalho, M.R.d. (2016): [http://www.mapress.com/j/zt/article/view/zootaxa.4167.1.1/7705 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.''</ref> * ''Potamotrygon amandae'' Loboda & M. R. de Carvalho, 2013 (Amanda's river stingray)<ref name=Loboda2013>Loboda, T.S. & Carvalho, M.R.d. (2013): [http://www.ufrgs.br/ni/NIv11n04/NIv11n4-693-737.pdf 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).] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131226003829/http://www.ufrgs.br/ni/NIv11n04/NIv11n4-693-737.pdf |date=2013-12-26 }} ''Neotropical Ichthyology, 11 (4): 693–737.''</ref> * ''Potamotrygon amazona'' Fontenelle, J. P. & de Carvalho, M. R., 2017 (Upper Amazon raspy river stingray)<ref name="Fontenelle2017"/> * ''Potamotrygon boesemani'' R. S. Rosa, M. R. de Carvalho & Wanderley, 2008 (Boeseman's river stingray)<ref name=Souza2008>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.''</ref> * ''Potamotrygon brachyura'' (Günther, 1880) (Short-tailed river stingray) * ''Potamotrygon constellata'' (Vaillant, 1880) (Thorny river stingray) * ''Potamotrygon falkneri'' Castex & Maciel, 1963 (Large-spot river stingray) * ''Potamotrygon garmani'' Fontenelle, J. P. & de Carvalho, M. R., 2017 (Garman's river stingray)<ref name="Fontenelle2017"/> * ''Potamotrygon henlei'' (Castelnau, 1855) (Big-tooth river stingray) * ''Potamotrygon histrix'' (J. P. Müller & Henle, 1834) (Porcupine river stingray) * ''Potamotrygon humerosa'' Garman, 1913 (Rough-back river stingray) * ''Potamotrygon jabuti'' M. R. de Carvalho, 2016 (Pearl river stingray)<ref name=Carvalho2016b/> * ''Potamotrygon leopoldi'' Castex & Castello, 1970 (White-blotched river stingray) * ''Potamotrygon limai'' Fontenelle, J. P. C. B. Silva & M. R. de Carvalho, 2014 (Zé Lima river stingray)<ref name=Fontenelle2014>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.''</ref> * ''Potamotrygon magdalenae'' (A. H. A. Duméril, 1865) (Magdalena river stingray) * ''Potamotrygon marinae'' Deynat, 2006 (Marina's river stingray) * ''Potamotrygon marquesi'' Silva & Loboda, 2019<ref name=Silva2019>{{cite journal | author1=Silva, J.P.C.B. | author2=T.S. Loboda | year=2019 | title=Potamotrygon marquesi, a new species of neotropical freshwater stingray (Potamotrygonidae) from the Brazilian Amazon Basin | journal=Journal of Fish Biology | volume=95 | issue=2 | pages=594–612 | doi=10.1111/jfb.14050 | pmid=31095730 | bibcode=2019JFBio..95..594C }}</ref> * ''Potamotrygon motoro'' (J. P. Müller & Henle, 1841) (Ocellate river stingray) * ''Potamotrygon ocellata'' (Engelhardt, 1912) (Red-blotched river stingray) * ''Potamotrygon orbignyi'' (Castelnau, 1855) (Smooth-back river stingray) * ''Potamotrygon pantanensis'' Loboda & M. R. de Carvalho, 2013 (Pantanal river stingray)<ref name=Loboda2013/> * ''Potamotrygon rex'' M. R. de Carvalho, 2016 (Great river stingray)<ref name=Carvalho2016a>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.''</ref> * ''Potamotrygon schroederi'' Fernández-Yépez, 1958 (Flower ray or rosette river stingray) * ''Potamotrygon schuhmacheri'' Castex, 1964 (Parana river stingray) * ''Potamotrygon scobina'' Garman, 1913 (Raspy river stingray) * ''Potamotrygon signata'' Garman, 1913 (Parnaiba river stingray) * ''Potamotrygon siponinmorok'' Hemraj-Naraine, Fontenelle, Acosta-Santos, Lovejoy, Liverpool & Kolmann, 2026 (Demerara River Stingray) * ''Potamotrygon tatianae'' J. P. C. B. Silva & M. R. de Carvalho, 2011 (Tatiana's river stingray) * ''Potamotrygon tigrina'' M. R. de Carvalho, Sabaj Pérez & Lovejoy, 2011 (Tiger river stingray)<ref name=Carvalho2011>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.''</ref> * ''Potamotrygon wallacei'' M. R. de Carvalho, R. S. Rosa & M. L. G. Araújo, 2016 (Cururu ray)<ref name=Carvalho2016>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.''</ref> * ''Potamotrygon yepezi'' Castex & Castello, 1970 (Maracaibo river stingray)

===Extinct (fossil) species=== These species are extinct and only known from Tertiary fossil remains:<ref>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. {{doi|10.1016/j.geobios.2017.10.003}}</ref>

*†''Potamotrygon canaanorum'' *†''Potamotrygon contamanensis'' *†''Potamotrygon rajachloeae'' *†''Potamotrygon ucayalensis<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Adnet |first=Sylvain |last2=Salas Gismondi |first2=Rodolfo |last3=Antoine |first3=Pierre-Olivier |date=2014-01-01 |title=Comparisons of dental morphology in river stingrays (Chondrichthyes: Potamotrygonidae) with new fossils from the middle Eocene of Peruvian Amazonia rekindle debate on their evolution |url=https://doi.org/10.1007/s00114-013-1127-1 |journal=Naturwissenschaften |language=en |volume=101 |issue=1 |pages=33–45 |doi=10.1007/s00114-013-1127-1 |issn=1432-1904|url-access=subscription }}</ref>''

==References== {{Commons category}} {{Reflist}}

Category:Potamotrygon Category:Freshwater fish of South America Category:Freshwater fish genera Category:Batomorphi genera Category:Taxa named by Samuel Garman