Ocellate river stingray (Potamotrygon motoro)

General data

Main name: Ocellate river stingray
Climates: Tropical, Subtropical
Habitat: Freshwater
Native: South America
Distribution: Amazon, Orinoco, Parana, Rio de la Plata, Uruguay River

Classification

Genus: Potamotrygon - Potamotrygon
Family: Potamotrygonidae - Southamerican freshwater stingrays
Order: Myliobatiformes - Stingrays
Class: Elasmobranchii - Sharks and Rays
Superclass: Chondrichthyes - Cartilaginous fishes

Description

The ocellate river stingray (Potamotrygon motoro), also known as the peacock-eye stingray or black river stingray, is a species of freshwater stingray in the family Potamotrygonidae. Potamotrygon motoro can grow up to 50 cm (1.6 ft) in disc width, 1 m (3.3 ft) in total length,[10] and 35 kg (77 lb) in weight. Its disk is roughly circular in shape, and its eyes are raised from the dorsal surface. The dorsal coloration is typically beige or brown, with numerous yellow-orange spots with dark rings. Its exact color, and the arrangement and size of the spots can vary significantly, both from individual to individual and depending on location. Three primary types have been identified in the Amazon basin, but each of these include a number of subtypes (two additional main types now are considered a separate species, P. marquesi). The two main Amazonian types, informally known as CD1 and CD2, are found throughout much of the Amazon (except most of the Rio Negro basin) and they often occur together. Those from the Río de la Plata Basin and Mearim River resemble CD1. Individuals from the Rio Negro and Orinoco basins (which are connected by the Casiquiare canal) are similar to each other and informally known as CD3, but differ from P. motoro elsewhere. Some individuals of CD3 have spots near the rim of the disc that are connected, forming a chain-like pattern. However, the marbled type is generally only reported from the Orinoco basin, including the Ventuari River

Taxonomy of Fishes

Osteichthyes - Bony fishes->
Chondrichthyes - Cartilaginous fishes->
- Elasmobranchii - Sharks and Rays->
  - Lamniformes - Mackerel sharks->
  - Carcharhiniformes - Ground sharks->
  - Rhinopristiformes - Shovelnose rays->
  - Torpediniformes - Electric rays->
  - Rajiformes - Skates and rays->
  - Orectolobiformes - Carpet shark->
  - Squatiniformes - Angelsharks->
  - Heterodontiformes - Bullhead and horn sharks->
  - Hexanchiformes - Six-gill sharks->
  - Myliobatiformes - Stingrays->
    
    Dasyatidae - Stingrays->
    
    Mobulidae - Manta rays->
    
    Potamotrygonidae - Southamerican freshwater stingrays->
    
    Potamotrygon - Potamotrygon->
    
    Ocellate river stingray (Potamotrygon motoro)
    
    Tiger river stingray (Potamotrygon tigrina)
    
    Giant short-tailed river stingray (Potamotrygon brachyura)
    
    Amanda’s River Stingray (Potamotrygon amandae)
    
    Xingu River ray (Potamotrygon leopoldi)
    
    Potamotrygon adamastor (Potamotrygon adamastor)
    
    Potamotrygon albimaculata (Potamotrygon albimaculata)
    
    Potamotrygon amazona (Potamotrygon amazona)
    
    Potamotrygon boesemani (Potamotrygon boesemani)
    
    Thorny river stingray (Potamotrygon constellata)
    
    Largespot river stingray (Potamotrygon falkneri)
    
    Potamotrygon garmani (Potamotrygon garmani)
    
    Bigtooth river stingray (Potamotrygon henlei)
    
    Porcupine river stingray (Potamotrygon histrix)
    
    Potamotrygon humerosa (Potamotrygon humerosa)
    
    Potamotrygon jabuti (Potamotrygon jabuti)
    
    Potamotrygon limai (Potamotrygon limai)
    
    Magdalena river stingray (Potamotrygon magdalenae)
    
    Potamotrygon marinae (Potamotrygon marinae)
    
    Red-blotched river stingray (Potamotrygon ocellata)
    
    Smooth back river stingray (Potamotrygon orbignyi)
    
    Potamotrygon pantanensis (Potamotrygon pantanensis)
    
    Great freshwater stingray (Potamotrygon rex)
    
    Rosette river stingray (Potamotrygon schroederi)
    
    Potamotrygon schuhmacheri (Potamotrygon schuhmacheri)
    
    Raspy river stingray (Potamotrygon scobina)
    
    Parnaiba river stingray (Potamotrygon signata)
    
    Potamotrygon tatianae (Potamotrygon tatianae)
    
    Potamotrygon wallacei (Potamotrygon wallacei)
    
    Maracaibo river stingray (Potamotrygon yepezi)
    
    Plesiotrygon - Antenna rays->
    
    Heliotrygon - Heliotrygon->
    
    Paratrygon - Paratrygon->
    
    Styracura - Styracura->
    
    Gymnuridae - Butterfly rays->
    
    Myliobatidae - Eagle ray->
    
    Urotrygonidae - American round stingrays->
    
    Aetobatidae - Pacific eagle rays->
    
    Hexatrygonidae - Sixgill stingrays->
    
    Plesiobatidae - Deepwater stingrays->
    
    Rhinopteridae - Cownose rays->
    
    Urolophidae - Round rays->
    
    Zanobatidae - Panrays->
  - Squaliformes - Sleeper and dogfish sharks->
  - Echinorhiniformes - Bramble sharks->
  - Pristiophoriformes - Saw sharks->
- Holocephali - Chimaeras->
Agnatha - Jawless fishes->