Porcupine river stingray

Not to be confused with porcupine ray.

Porcupine river stingray
Conservation status
Data Deficient  (IUCN 3.1)
Scientific classification
Domain:	Eukaryota
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Chondrichthyes
Subclass:	Elasmobranchii
Order:	Myliobatiformes
Family:	Potamotrygonidae
Genus:	Potamotrygon
Species:	P. histrix
Binomial name
Potamotrygon histrix (J. P. Müller & Henle, 1834)
Synonyms
Potamotrygon hystrix Trygon hystrix

The porcupine river stingray (Potamotrygon histrix, sometimes incorrectly modified to Potamotrygon hystrix) is a species of river stingray in the family Potamotrygonidae, the type of the Potamotrygon genus. It is found in the basins of the Paraná and Paraguay River basins in South America. Most chemical weathering of minerals seems to take place in the upland drainage basins rather than on the floodplains, and most major solutes display conservative mixing in the river-floodplain system. The population in the Rio Negro basin was described as a separated species, P. wallacei, in 2016.

Appearance

Dorsal and ventral view

Almost circular in shape, it grows up to 40 cm (16 in) in disc width and 15 kg (33 lb) in weight. The upper surface is covered with denticles (sharp tooth-like scales). The coloration is light brownish with mottled patterns on the dorso, and pink on the ventral side. As with all stingrays, the mouth and gill openings are on the underside, and the eyes and gills exits are on the dorsal side.

Sting

Like other stingrays, the fish of this genus have venomous barbs at the base of their tails, and are dangerous to humans. The sting is replaced at roughly six-month intervals. It is an almost flat, barbed structure that can reach 6 cm (2.4 in) in length, and is covered with a toxic mucus, making any attack a very painful one.

The natives of South America are said to fear the stingray more than the piranha. However, they are not aggressive fish and not dangerous unless stepped on or otherwise threatened.

Aquarium

P. histrix, male (left) and female (right). Notice the two claspers on the male

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 their 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 (any spike in NO₂ levels can kill them with no warning). Juvenile stingrays are unable to survive in waters that contain salinity over 20.6%. Like many species of stingrays, P. histrix has been bred in captivity, but they require a large tank. The male should be smaller than the female, as it is rather aggressive, biting the female during the mating process. Males can be determined by the presence of claspers as in other chondrichthyans.