Ocellate river stingray | |
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Ocellate river stingray, Potamotrygon motoro | |
Conservation status | |
Scientific classification | |
Kingdom: | Animalia |
Phylum: | Chordata |
Class: | Chondrichthyes |
Subclass: | Elasmobranchii |
Order: | Myliobatiformes |
Family: | Potamotrygonidae |
Genus: | Potamotrygon |
Species: | P. motoro |
Binomial name | |
Potamotrygon motoro (J. P. Müller & Henle, 1841) |
The ocellate river stingray (Potamotrygon motoro), also known as the peacock-eye stingray, is a potamodromous freshwater ray native to the basins of the Uruguay, Paraná, Orinoco, and Amazon Rivers.
It is known to grow up to 1 m (3 ft.) TL and 15 kg (33 lb.).[2] Its disk is roughly circular in shape, and its eyes are raised from the dorsal surface. The dorsal coloration is beige or brown, with numerous light orange spots with dark rings. The arrangements of these spots can vary from fish to fish.
Ocellate river stingrays are sometimes kept in captivity, with requirements similar to other members of Potamotrygon.[3] It is one of the most common species of Potamotrygon in the aquarium.