Potamotrygon motoro 10-12cm

Classification

Potamotrygonidae

Distribution

This species has a very wide natural range, taking in parts of Colombia, Peru, Bolivia, Brazil, Paraguay, Uruguay and Argentina. It’s been recorded in the main Amazon basin and numerous smaller rivers including the Rio Orinoco, Rio Uruguay, Rio Paraná and Rio Paraguay.

Habitat

Like other members of the genus it inhabits a variety of biotopes. These include sand banks, the shallows of major rivers and slow-moving tributaries with substrates of mud or sand. It also move into areas of flooded forest during the annual wet season and can later be found in terrestrial lakes and ponds formed by the receding flood waters.

Maximum Standard Length

Depending on locality, up to 90cm across the disc. This would be exceptional in the aquarium, although many captive specimens top 60cm.