Potamotrygon

Taxobox | name = "Potamotrygon"

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image_width = 240px
image_caption = Ocellate river stingray, "Potamotrygon motoro"
regnum = Animalia
phylum = Chordata
classis = Chondrichthyes
subclassis = Elasmobranchii
ordo = Rajiformes
familia = Potamotrygonidae
genus = "Potamotrygon"
subdivision_ranks = species
subdivision = See text for species.
genus_authority = (Müller & Henle, 1841)

"Potamotrygon" is a genus of freshwater stingrays native to the rivers of South America. As of July 2006, FishBase lists seventeen distinct species. The type species is "P. hystrix".

Freshwater stingrays of the genus "Potamotrygon" are sometimes kept as exotic aquarium fish; though freshwater stingray of other genera do appear in the trade, most are from this genus. They are best kept with a deep, sandy substrate, in which they bury themselves, often with only the eyes visible. They are not territorial with other animals and can be kept in groups, provided a large enough aquarium is provided. They are carnivorous bottom feeders and require strong filtration as they are rather sensitive to water conditions.cite book | title = Complete Encyclopedia of the Freshwater Aquarium | last = Dawes | first = John | publisher = Firefly Books Ltd | location = New York | year = 2001 | id = ISBN 1-55297-544-4.] Many species of stingray have been bred in captivity,Fact|date=February 2007 and males can be determined by the presence of claspers as in other Chondrichthyans.

Like other stingrays, the fishes of this genus have venomous barbs at the base of their tails, and are dangerous species to humans. [FishBase_genus|genus=Potamotrygon|year=2007|month= Mar] ] It is said that the natives of South America fear the stingray more than they do the piranha. [cite book | title = Exotic Tropical Fishes | last = Axelrod | first = Herbert, R. | publisher = T.F.H. Publications. | year = 1996 | id = ISBN 0-87666-543-1]

An undescribed type is referred to as the Itaituba river stingray or P14 (a P-number system is sometimes used by aquarists, similar to the L-number system). This fish is superficially similar to "P. henlei" and "P. leopoldi" except for smaller spots and in larger number.

pecies list

*"Potamotrygon boesemani" Rosa, de Carvalh & Wanderley, 2008 [cite journal|title="Potamotrygon boesemani" (Chondrichthyes: Myliobatiformes: Potamotrygonidae), a new species of Neotropical freshwater stingray from Surinam| author = Rosa, de Carvalh & Wanderley|journal=Neotropical Ichthyology|volume=6|issue = 1|pages=1-8|year=2008]
* Short-tailed river stingray, "P. brachyura" (Günther, 1880).
* Vermiculate river stingray, "P. castexi" (Castello & Yagolkowski, 1969).
* Thorny river stingray, "P. constellata" (Vaillant, 1880).
* Largespot river stingray, "P. falkneri" (Castex & Maciel, 1963).
* Bigtooth river stingray, "P. henlei" (Castelnau, 1855).
* Porcupine river stingray, "P. hystrix" (Müller & Henle, 1834).
* White-blotched river stingray, "P. leopoldi" (Castex & Castello, 1970).
* Magdalena river stingray, "P. magdalenae" (Duméril, 1865).
* "P. marinae", (Deynat, 2006)
* Ocellate river stingray, "P. motoro" (Müller & Henle, 1841).
* Red-blotched river stingray, "P. ocellata" (Engelhardt, 1912).
* Smooth back river stingray, "P. orbignyi" (Günther, 1880).
* Rosette river stingray, "P. schroederi" (Fernández-Yépez, 1957).
* "P. schuhmacheri" (Castex, 1964).
* Raspy river stingray, "P. scobina" (Garman, 1913).
* Parnaiba river stingray, "P. signata" (Garman, 1913).
* Maracaibo river stingray, "P. yepezi" (Castex & Castello, 1970).

References

ee also

*"Potamotrygonocotyle"