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Smooth-back River Stingray: Potamotrygon orbignyi

Family: Potamotrygonidae
Common names

Smooth-back River Stingray, Reticulated Freshwater Stingray.

Binomial

Potamotrygon orbignyi.

Synonyms

Potamotrygon dumerilii, Potamotrygon reticulatus, Trygon dorbignyi, Trygon d’orbignyi, Trygon dumerilii, Trygon orbignyi, Trygon reticulatus.

Identification

A medium-sized freshwater stingray with an oval disc that is slightly longer than wide. Snout broadly rounded with a small central lobe. Eyes somewhat pronounced. Spiracle length approximately 2x orbit length. Nostrils thin. Nasal curtain fringed. Mouth small with 5 oral papillae.
Small denticles on central disc. Denticles sparser towards disc margin. Pelvic fin posterior margin level with disc margin. Tail slightly shorter than disc width, broad anteriorly, tapering abruptly at base of finfolds. Well developed dorsal/ventral finfolds. Tail beyond broad anterior section often damaged or absent. One irregular row of tall, sharp thorns dorsally on tail. Tail thorns flanked by numerous smaller thorns in adults. Large, well developed caudal stings.

Colour

Dorsal pattern highly variable; often composed of large light brown or yellowish irregular spots and dark brown reticulations. Darker reticulations sometimes dominate, leading to a more mottled overall pattern. Paired light spots often present along centre line from mid back to caudal sting base.
Ventrum whitish or mottled with dark greyish-brown margin. Tail dark posteriorly.

Size

Maximum disc width 61cm. Total maximum length 110cm. Disc width at birth approximately 11cm.

Smooth-back River Stingray, Potamotrygon orbignyi. Possibly a hybrid. Aka Reticulated Freshwater Stingray. Rio Teles Pires, Brazil. Widespread in the Amazon and Orinoco River basins and in river systems in Suriname, Guyana and French Guiana, South America.

Conservation Status

LEAST CONCERN

The Smooth-back River Stingray (Potamotrygon orbignyi) is a wide-ranging freshwater stingray present throughout most of the Amazon Basin. It is considered to be relatively abundant but it is threatened by habitat degradation due to mining and damming. The reticulated freshwater stingray is caught for local consumption and juveniles are collected and legally exported under permit for the ornamental fish trade; although it is not a highly sought after species.

Geographic variation may lead to a future assessment as a species complex, which would likely change the status of each regional species.

Smooth-back River Stingray, Potamotrygon orbignyi. Possibly a hybrid. Aka Reticulated Freshwater Stingray. Rio Teles Pires, Brazil. Widespread in the Amazon and Orinoco River basins and in river systems in Suriname, Guyana and French Guiana, South America.
Habitat

Tropical freshwater lakes and river systems. The smooth-back river stingray is more common in deeper central troughs of rivers during the day, but migrates towards shallow banks at night.

Distribution

South America. The Reticulated Freshwater Stingray is widespread in the Amazon and Orinoco Basins. It is found throughout much of Brazil as far south as the Tocontins and Araguaia Rivers, as well as in the rivers of Venezuela, Colombia, Guyana, Suriname, and French Guyana.

Reproduction

Viviparous. 2 pups per litter.

Diet

Diet consists of crustaceans, insects and small fishes.

Behavior

Nocturnally migrates into shallow water to feed.

Reaction to divers

Easy to approach with non-threatening movements. Will move away but easily followed.

Diving logistics

I have encountered the Smooth-back River Stingray in a tributary of the Teles Pires River, but this is at the southern margin of it’s range. It is almost certainly easier to find further north. Reports suggest that it is fairly easy to encounter in the Rio Xingu.

Smooth-back River Stingray, Potamotrygon orbignyi. Possibly a hybrid. Aka Reticulated Freshwater Stingray. Rio Teles Pires, Brazil. Widespread in the Amazon and Orinoco River basins and in river systems in Suriname, Guyana and French Guiana, South America.
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Smooth-back River Stingray 026

Smooth-back River Stingray, Potamotrygon orbignyi. Possibly a hybrid. Aka Reticulated Freshwater Stingray. Rio Teles Pires, Brazil. Widespread in the Amazon and Orinoco River basins and in river systems in Suriname, Guyana and French Guiana, South America.

Smooth-back River Stingray, Potamotrygon orbignyi. Possibly a hybrid. Aka Reticulated Freshwater Stingray. Rio Teles Pires, Brazil. Widespread in the Amazon and Orinoco River basins and in river systems in Suriname, Guyana and French Guiana, South America.
View Larger

Smooth-back River Stingray 024

Smooth-back River Stingray, Potamotrygon orbignyi. Possibly a hybrid. Aka Reticulated Freshwater Stingray. Rio Teles Pires, Brazil. Widespread in the Amazon and Orinoco River basins and in river systems in Suriname, Guyana and French Guiana, South America.

Smooth-back River Stingray, Potamotrygon orbignyi. Possibly a hybrid. Aka Reticulated Freshwater Stingray. Rio Teles Pires, Brazil. Widespread in the Amazon and Orinoco River basins and in river systems in Suriname, Guyana and French Guiana, South America.
View Larger

Smooth-back River Stingray 022

Smooth-back River Stingray, Potamotrygon orbignyi. Possibly a hybrid. Aka Reticulated Freshwater Stingray. Rio Teles Pires, Brazil. Widespread in the Amazon and Orinoco River basins and in river systems in Suriname, Guyana and French Guiana, South America.

Smooth-back River Stingray, Potamotrygon orbignyi. Possibly a hybrid. Aka Reticulated Freshwater Stingray. Rio Teles Pires, Brazil. Widespread in the Amazon and Orinoco River basins and in river systems in Suriname, Guyana and French Guiana, South America.
View Larger

Smooth-back River Stingray 019

Smooth-back River Stingray, Potamotrygon orbignyi. Possibly a hybrid. Aka Reticulated Freshwater Stingray. Rio Teles Pires, Brazil. Widespread in the Amazon and Orinoco River basins and in river systems in Suriname, Guyana and French Guiana, South America.

Smooth-back River Stingray, Potamotrygon orbignyi. Possibly a hybrid. Aka Reticulated Freshwater Stingray. Rio Teles Pires, Brazil. Widespread in the Amazon and Orinoco River basins and in river systems in Suriname, Guyana and French Guiana, South America.
View Larger

Smooth-back River Stingray 017

Smooth-back River Stingray, Potamotrygon orbignyi. Possibly a hybrid. Aka Reticulated Freshwater Stingray. Rio Teles Pires, Brazil. Widespread in the Amazon and Orinoco River basins and in river systems in Suriname, Guyana and French Guiana, South America.

Smooth-back River Stingray, Potamotrygon orbignyi. Possibly a hybrid. Aka Reticulated Freshwater Stingray. Rio Teles Pires, Brazil. Widespread in the Amazon and Orinoco River basins and in river systems in Suriname, Guyana and French Guiana, South America.
View Larger

Smooth-back River Stingray 012

Smooth-back River Stingray, Potamotrygon orbignyi. Possibly a hybrid. Aka Reticulated Freshwater Stingray. Rio Teles Pires, Brazil. Widespread in the Amazon and Orinoco River basins and in river systems in Suriname, Guyana and French Guiana, South America.

Smooth-back River Stingray, Potamotrygon orbignyi. Possibly a hybrid. Aka Reticulated Freshwater Stingray. Rio Teles Pires, Brazil. Widespread in the Amazon and Orinoco River basins and in river systems in Suriname, Guyana and French Guiana, South America.
View Larger

Smooth-back River Stingray 002

Smooth-back River Stingray, Potamotrygon orbignyi. Possibly a hybrid. Aka Reticulated Freshwater Stingray. Rio Teles Pires, Brazil. Widespread in the Amazon and Orinoco River basins and in river systems in Suriname, Guyana and French Guiana, South America.

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Similar species

False Reticulate Freshwater Stingray (Potamotrygon humerosa) Extremely similar in appearance. Differentiated by a more diffuse but otherwise almost identical dorsal pattern. Confined to Brazil, possibly only in the lower Tapajos drainage.

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