Ocellate river stingray facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Ocellate river stingray |
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| Genus: |
Potamotrygon
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| Species: |
motoro
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The ocellate river stingray (Potamotrygon motoro) is a type of freshwater stingray. It's also known as the peacock-eye stingray or black river stingray. This amazing fish lives in rivers across South America. You can find it in big river systems like the Río de la Plata, Amazon, Mearim and Orinoco basins. It was the first stingray from its family to be discovered and is found in many places. Sometimes, people even keep these stingrays in large aquariums.
About Ocellate River Stingray Types
The ocellate river stingray looks different depending on where it lives. Scientists are still studying these differences. They want to understand if some of these groups are actually separate species.
For example, stingrays in the Río de la Plata Basin were studied in 2013. Scientists found that P. motoro lives almost everywhere there. But they also found two other similar types: P. amandae and P. pantanensis.
In the Amazon, there are two special types that don't have black-edged spots. These are called "mantilla ray" (CD4) and CD5. In 2019, these two types were named a new species, P. marquesi. This shows how much variety there is among these stingrays.
What Ocellate River Stingrays Look Like
The ocellate river stingray can grow quite large. Its body, called a disc, can be up to 50 cm (1.6 ft) wide. Its total length, including its tail, can reach 1 m (3.3 ft). These stingrays can weigh up to 35 kg (77 lb).
Their body is mostly round. Their eyes stick up a bit from their back. The top of their body is usually beige or brown. It has many yellow-orange spots with dark rings. The exact color and the size of the spots can change a lot. This depends on each stingray and where it lives.
Scientists have found three main types in the Amazon basin. Each of these has many smaller variations. For example, stingrays from the Rio Negro and Orinoco basins look similar to each other. Some of them even have spots that connect, forming a chain-like pattern. There is also a "marbled" type, mostly found in the Orinoco basin.
Ocellate River Stingrays in Aquariums
Ocellate river stingrays are sometimes kept as pets. They need a very large tank to live comfortably. They are one of the most popular types of freshwater stingrays for aquariums. Keeping them requires special care, just like other stingrays in the Potamotrygon family.
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In Spanish: Raya motoro para niños
