dcsimg

Biology

provided by Fishbase
Buried in sand during day, hunting for benthic invertebrates during night (Ref. 13614).
license
cc-by-nc
copyright
FishBase
Recorder
Armi G. Torres
original
visit source
partner site
Fishbase

Importance

provided by Fishbase
aquarium: public aquariums
license
cc-by-nc
copyright
FishBase
Recorder
Armi G. Torres
original
visit source
partner site
Fishbase

Xingu River ray

provided by wikipedia EN

The Xingu River ray, white-blotched river stingray, or polka-dot stingray (Potamotrygon leopoldi) is a species of freshwater fish in the family Potamotrygonidae. It is endemic to the Xingu River basin in Brazil and as such prefers clear waters with rocky bottoms.[1] It is sometimes kept in aquaria, like its more common relative the Motoro.[1]

Etymology

The fish is named in honor of King Leopold III (1901–1983) of Belgium, who sponsored many scientific studies at the Institut Royal des Sciences Naturelles de Belgique.[3]

Description

Potamotrygon leopoldi in the wild

Potamotrygon leopoldi reaches up to 40 cm (16 in) in disc width,[4] 75 cm (30 in) in total length and 20 kg (44 lb) in weight.[5] Females grow larger than males.[6] It is closely related to the similar P. henlei from the Tocantins River basin and P. albimaculata from the Tapajós River basin.[7] Compared to P. henlei, P. leopoldi is deeper black above and its underparts are mostly brownish-dusky (large white center to underparts of P. henlei).[7][8] Compared to P. albimaculata, P. leopoldi has fewer and larger yellowish-white spots above.[7][8]

The Xingu river ray is a venomous stingray that contains venom localized at its dentine spine in its tail.[9] While the ray's venom composition does not change with maturation, the venom toxicity decreases as rays get older.[9] On the other hand, rays’ jaw shape, stiffness, and mineralization are strengthened with age, which allows mature rays the ability to consume hard-shelled invertebrates.[10] These changes in traits with maturation reflect the different pressures rays experience in terms of functions such as feeding and avoiding predation during different maturity stages.[9]

The Xingu River ray is a popular fish among monster fish hobbyists. It is known as the Black diamond stingray or BD. Captive breeding of the species have risen the captive population and occasionally bred in larger indoor breeding facilities. In the aquarium there are many different variants such as P12, Eclipse , Thousand island, etc. It could be quite expensive and the most expensive pure breeds may cost a lot. These Rays need extensive care to thrive in aquaria. They could be housed with larger fish such as Clown knife , Spotted gar , Arowana , Pacu, etc. They may live for 9-13 years under good conditions .

References

  1. ^ a b c Charvet, P., Torres, Y.T.P., Santana, F.M. & Sayer (2022). "Potamotrygon leopoldi". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2022: e.T39403A2923696. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2022-2.RLTS.T39403A2923696.en. Retrieved 9 December 2022.{{cite journal}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  2. ^ "Appendices | CITES". cites.org. Retrieved 2022-01-14.
  3. ^ Christopher Scharpf & Kenneth J. Lazara (22 September 2018). "Order MYLIOBATIFORMES (Stingrays)". The ETYFish Project Fish Name Etymology Database. Christopher Scharpf and Kenneth J. Lazara. Retrieved 11 November 2021.
  4. ^ Froese, Rainer; Pauly, Daniel (eds.) (2017). "Potamotrygon leopoldi" in FishBase. February 2017 version.
  5. ^ Fishing World-records: Potamotrygon leopoldi. Retrieved 22 February 2017.
  6. ^ "Polka-dot stingray, Potamotrygon leopoldi". Animals. Dallas World Aquarium. Retrieved 25 January 2016.
  7. ^ a b c Carvalho, M.R.d. (2016): Description of two extraordinary new species of freshwater stingrays of the genus Potamotrygon endemic to the rio Tapajós basin, Brazil (Chondrichthyes: Potamotrygonidae), with notes on other Tapajós stingrays. Zootaxa, 4167 (1): 1–63.
  8. ^ a b Ramos, H.A.C. (May 2017), Commercial species of freshwater stingrays in Brazil, Department of Sustainable Use of Biodiversity and Forests, Brazilian Institute of Environment and Renewable Natural Resources and Ministry of the Environment, pp. 1–33
  9. ^ a b c Kirchhoff, Kim N.; Klingelhöfer, Ines; Dahse, Hans-Martin; Morlock, Gertrud; Wilke, Thomas (December 2014). "Maturity-related changes in venom toxicity of the freshwater stingray Potamotrygon leopoldi". Toxicon. 92: 97–101. doi:10.1016/j.toxicon.2014.10.011. PMID 25449099.
  10. ^ Rutledge, Kelsi M.; Summers, Adam P.; Kolmann, Matthew A. (June 2019). "Killing them softly: Ontogeny of jaw mechanics and stiffness in mollusk‐feeding freshwater stingrays". Journal of Morphology. 280 (6): 796–808. doi:10.1002/jmor.20984. ISSN 0362-2525. PMID 30950541.
license
cc-by-sa-3.0
copyright
Wikipedia authors and editors
original
visit source
partner site
wikipedia EN

Xingu River ray: Brief Summary

provided by wikipedia EN

The Xingu River ray, white-blotched river stingray, or polka-dot stingray (Potamotrygon leopoldi) is a species of freshwater fish in the family Potamotrygonidae. It is endemic to the Xingu River basin in Brazil and as such prefers clear waters with rocky bottoms. It is sometimes kept in aquaria, like its more common relative the Motoro.

license
cc-by-sa-3.0
copyright
Wikipedia authors and editors
original
visit source
partner site
wikipedia EN