Creatures in Crisis
Photograph of Potamotrygon tigrina (Potamotrygon tigrina), recorded as Endangered
Potamotrygon tigrina (Potamotrygon tigrina). Image via Wikimedia Commons.

Endangered

Potamotrygon tigrina

Potamotrygon tigrina

Potamotrygon tigrina is a shark or ray in the family Potamotrygonidae (order Myliobatiformes), recorded as Endangered.

Status
Endangered
Scientific name
Potamotrygon tigrina
Taxonomy
Elasmobranchii · Myliobatiformes · Potamotrygonidae · Potamotrygon

Appearance

This endangered species is endemic to black- and whitewater rivers in the upper Amazon basin in northeastern Peru. The maximum size of the tiger river stingray is not known, but it reaches a disc width of at least 70 cm (28 in) and in captivity maturity is reached at a disc width of 48 cm (19 in).

Range and habitat

Potamotrygon tigrina, also known as the tiger river stingray, is a freshwater ray in the family Potamotrygonidae. The tiger river stingray is closely related to P. Schroederi of the Rio Negro–Orinoco. Prior to the scientific description of the tiger river stingray, some used the name P. Menchacai, but this is incorrect.

Pins are Wikidata “endemic to” fields. Orange dots, when present, are GBIF occurrence tiles — survey bias included.

Diet and breeding

Rays feed on the bottom or in open water depending on the family. Nets and shallow-water fisheries are the usual human contact.

Sharks and rays grow slowly and have few young. A fishery that treats them as bycatch can empty a coastal form.

In crisis

Potamotrygon tigrina is Endangered on this catalog because that is the IUCN category stored on Wikidata. Confirm the official criteria and any later count on iucnredlist.org.

Sources

Written for this catalog from the English Wikipedia article on Potamotrygon tigrina, Wikidata item Q2109533. Family and order context is original field-guide writing about the group, not a copied assessment of this one species. Wikipedia text is CC BY-SA. Not an IUCN assessment. Counts, when quoted, can change — confirm them on the recovery programme and on iucnredlist.org.

Photograph via Wikimedia Commons. Wikipedia · Wikidata · IUCN Red List.

Also in this catalog

Photograph of Vaquita (Phocoena sinus), recorded as Critically EndangeredCR

Vaquita

Phocoena sinus
Photograph of Javan rhinoceros (Rhinoceros sondaicus), recorded as Critically EndangeredCR

Javan rhinoceros

Rhinoceros sondaicus
Photograph of Sumatran orangutan (Pongo abelii), recorded as Critically EndangeredCR

Sumatran orangutan

Pongo abelii
Photograph of Axolotl (Ambystoma mexicanum), recorded as Critically EndangeredCR

Axolotl

Ambystoma mexicanum

Quick answers

What is Potamotrygon tigrina?
Potamotrygon tigrina is a shark or ray in the family Potamotrygonidae (order Myliobatiformes).
What is the conservation status of Potamotrygon tigrina?
Endangered, as the IUCN category stored on Wikidata for Potamotrygon tigrina. Confirm the official assessment on iucnredlist.org.
Where does Potamotrygon tigrina live?
This endangered species is endemic to black- and whitewater rivers in the upper Amazon basin in northeastern Peru.
Why is Potamotrygon tigrina in crisis?
The maximum size of the tiger river stingray is not known, but it reaches a disc width of at least 70 cm (28 in) and in captivity maturity is reached at a disc width of 48 cm (19 in).
Is this the IUCN Red List page for Potamotrygon tigrina?
No. This is a researched catalog account. The Red List is the assessment.
Is Potamotrygon tigrina a pet?
An animal on this catalog is in crisis in the wild. Keeping one is usually the wrong question.