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Elasmobranchii (sharks and rays) > Myliobatiformes (Stingrays) > Potamotrygonidae (River stingrays) > Potamotrygoninae
Etymology: Potamotrygon: Greek, potamos = river + Greek, trygon = a sting ray (Ref. 45335).
Eponymy: Alcide Charles Victor Dessalines d’Orbigny (1802–1857) was a traveller, collector, illustrator and naturalist. [...] (Ref. 128868), visit book page.
More on author: Castelnau.

Issue
A widespread species that may require subdivision. Rosa (1985a) recognizes Potamotrygon dumerilli (Castelnau 1855) and Potamotrygon humerosus Garman 1913 as distinct species, but evidence given is meager. Larger specimens may weigh close to five kg. Reproductive biology studied by Lasso et al. (1997a) in Venezuela; males achieve sexual maturity at 23 cm DL and females at 18.5 cm DL, and females give birth to up to two pups during any time of year. Food consists of fishes, insects and crustaceans. Additional references: Bertin (1939), Sérét & McEachran (1986), Compagno & Cook (1995), Planquette et al. (1996).

Environment: milieu / climate zone / depth range / distribution range Ecology

Freshwater; benthopelagic; pH range: 6.8 - 7.5. Tropical; 24°C - 26°C (Ref. 12468)

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South America: Widespread in Amazon and Orinoco River basins and in river systems in Suriname, Guyana and French Guiana.

Size / Weight / Age

Maturity: L_m ? range ? - ? cm
Max length : 35.0 cm WD male/unsexed; (Ref. 27749); 32.5 cm WD (female); max. published weight: 1.4 kg (Ref. 27749); max. published weight: 1.4 kg

Occurs in stream swamps, floodplain lakes and artificial lagoons. Feeds mainly on insects and benthic crustaceans (Ref. 27749).

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

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

Lasso, C.A., A. Rial B. and O. Lasso-Alcalá., 1997. Notes on the biology of the freshwater stingrays Paratrygon aiereba (Müller & Henle, 1841) and Potamotrygon orbignyi (Castelnau, 1855) (Chondrichthyes: Potamotrygonidae) in the Venezuelan Llanos. aqua, J. Ichthyol. Aquat. Biol. 2(3):39-52. (Ref. 27749)

IUCN Red List Status (Ref. 130435: Version 2024-1)

Least Concern (LC) ; Date assessed: 24 June 2003

CITES

Appendix III: International trade cooperation

CMS (Ref. 116361)

Not Evaluated

Threat to humans

Harmless

Human uses

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Estimates based on models

Phylogenetic diversity index (Ref. 82804): PD₅₀ = 0.5000 [Uniqueness, from 0.5 = low to 2.0 = high].

Bayesian length-weight: a=0.01000 (0.00244 - 0.04107), b=3.04 (2.81 - 3.27), in cm total length, based on all LWR estimates for this body shape (Ref. 93245).

Trophic level (Ref. 69278): 3.2 ±0.43 se; based on food items.

Resilience (Ref. 120179): Very Low, minimum population doubling time more than 14 years (Assuming Fec <10).

Fishing Vulnerability (Ref. 59153): High vulnerability (58 of 100).

Potamotrygon orbignyi (Castelnau, 1855)