Orange-Spot Freshwater Stingray
(Potamotrygon motoro)
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Animal Type
Sharks and Rays
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Exhibits
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Range
South America
Overview
Orange-spot freshwater stingrays have oval-shaped bodies with distinct orange spots ringed in black. Their spiracles, or openings, are located on their discs, which lets them breathe while buried in the sand. These stingrays' tails are covered in venomous barbs.
Like other sharks and rays, orange-spot freshwater stingrays have ampullae of Lorenzini. These sensory organs only work at a close range, but they allow rays to sense the electrical charges of prey and other animals, which makes finding them easier.
Quick Facts
Learn more about orange-spot freshwater stingrays! Did you know these rays don't have bones? Their bodies are primarily made of cartilage—just like other stingrays and sharks.
They are mostly found in South America's Amazon River and Orinoco River basins. These rays live in slow-moving freshwater rivers and are the most widespread ray species in the Amazon.
Juveniles eat plankton, small crustaceans, mollusks and larvae. Adults eat fish and crustaceans.
As full-grown adults, these stingrays can weigh up to 35 pounds. Their discs can have a diameter of two feet.
They are listed as a species of least concern on the IUCN Red List.
Predators include caiman and larger fish.
Explore Similar Animals
The National Aquarium—and the aquatic world—is full of amazing animals like this one.
Atlantic Stingray (Hypanus sabinus)
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Australian Whipray (Himantura australis)
Its tail can be up to three times the length of its body
Largetooth Sawfish (Pristis pristis)
It's most prominent feature is its rostrum, also referred to as snout or saw, which has 14 to 23 large rostral teeth protruding from it.
Roughtail Stingray (Dasyatis centroura)
Roughtail stingrays are named for the thorny plates, or tubercles, that run along the outer part of their body and base of their tail.
White-Blotched River Stingray (Potamotrygon leopoldi)
This stingray has a distinctive pattern of dots, helping it blend into its riverbed habitat.