Raspy river stingray facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Raspy river stingray |
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The raspy river stingray (also known as the mosaic stingray or arraia) is a fascinating type of freshwater fish. It belongs to a special family called Potamotrygonidae. Unlike most stingrays you might think of, this one lives in rivers, not the ocean!
This unique stingray is found only in one specific area, which means it is endemic to the Amazon basin in Brazil. You can find it in parts of the Amazon River and Pará River, as well as in the Madeira River basin, Uatumã River, and the lower Tocantins River.
What It Looks Like
The raspy river stingray can grow quite large! Its main body, called the disc, can be up to about 69 centimeters (27 inches) wide. From its nose to the tip of its tail, it can reach a total length of about 132 centimeters (52 inches).
Where It Lives
This stingray is fairly common in its home rivers. However, its home is facing some challenges. Things like habitat loss are a threat to these amazing creatures. This means their natural living spaces are being damaged or disappearing.
Family and Friends
The raspy river stingray is part of a special group of five Amazonian stingrays. These stingrays live in different places and do not usually meet each other. This is called being allopatric. The other stingrays in this group are:
- P. adamastor (found in the Uraricoera River)
- P. amazona (found in the Juruá, Jutaí, and Rio Negro)
- P. garmani (found in the middle to upper parts of the Tocantins River)
- P. limai (found in the Jamari River)
All these stingrays in this group have a unique feature: they have three angular cartilages. Other species in the same genus usually only have one or two.
See also
In Spanish: Raya escobina para niños
