Potamotrygon
Genus of cartilaginous fishes / From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Potamotrygon is a genus of freshwater stingrays in the family Potamotrygonidae native to the rivers of South America,[1] and sometimes seen in the aquarium trade.[2]
Quick Facts Potamotrygon, Scientific classification ...
Potamotrygon | |
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Potamotrygon motoro | |
Scientific classification | |
Domain: | Eukaryota |
Kingdom: | Animalia |
Phylum: | Chordata |
Class: | Chondrichthyes |
Subclass: | Elasmobranchii |
Superorder: | Batoidea |
Order: | Myliobatiformes |
Family: | Potamotrygonidae |
Genus: | Potamotrygon Garman, 1877 |
Type species | |
Trygon hystrix J. P. Müller & Henle, 1841 |
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Like other stingrays, the fishes of this genus have venomous barbs at the base of their tails, and their stings are dangerous to humans.[2] It is said that the natives of South America fear the stingray more than they do fear the piranha.[3]
Potamotrygon vary considerably in color, pattern and size, with the maximum disc width ranging from 31 cm (1 ft) in P. wallacei to 1.5 m (5 ft) in P. brachyura.[4][5]