Rio Negro river stingray
Potamotrygon wallacei
Where at Shedd?
Amazon Rising
| Diet | Newborn stingrays live on yolk reserves for their first three weeks and then start feeding on aquatic insects; adults shift their diet to shrimp and small fishes |
|---|---|
| Size | Disc width: Up to 13.75 inches (35 cm) |
| Type | Sharks & Rays |
| Range | Rio Negro, Brazil, South America |
| Habitat | Found in blackwater creeks and tributaries of the Rio Negro River basin in Brazil |
Did you know?
- This recently described stingray was named in honor of Alfred Russel Wallace (1823-1913), the first naturalist to collect, observe and illustrate this species while traveling the Rio Negro in the early 1850’s.
- “Blackwater river” is a term given to some rivers that move slowly through highly vegetative areas such as forested swamps and wetlands. The water is tinted a dark brown from decaying matter from trees and other plants, giving them this name.
- This species is part of AZA’s SAFE (Saving Animals From Extinction) species project. Together with conservation experts, we are working to identify and prioritize conservation actions to prevent the forever loss of these species.