Conservation

Ocellate river stingrays do not have many predators. While caimans are known to eat this species on occasion, humans are the largest predator of Potamotrygon motoro. The rays are caught for food in some regions of Brazil, however the majority of catch is either for aesthetic purposes or to prevent incidents of rays stabbing humans with their venomous spines (Spiegel 2013). The species is also caught for the aquarium trade as it is one of the most popular aquarium species of stingray (Ng et al. 2010). Potamotrygon motoro is labeled data deficient on the IUCN Red List and is listed in CITES appendix III, meaning that they are protected in at least one country (Motoro Ray, Ocellate River Stingray). Although there is not enough data to label Potamotrygon motoro, the species is not likely to be of great conservation concern. This is due to the low demand for the species as a food source by humans, wide geographic distribution, and variety of the species’ diet (Spiegel 2013).

References

Motoro Ray (no date)https://www.georgiaaquarium.org/animal/motoro-ray-2/ (accessed April 25, 2024)

Ng HH, Tan HH, Yeo DCJ, Ng PKL (2010) Stingers in a strange land: South American freshwater stingrays (Potamotrygonidae) in Singapore. Biol Invasions 12.

Ocellate River Stingray (no date)https://eol.org/pages/205366 (accessed April 25, 2024)

Spiegel J (2013) Potamotrygon motoro Black river stingray (Also: Ocellate river stingray; South American freshwater stin). https://animaldiversity.org/accounts/Potamotrygon_motoro/ (accessed April 25, 2024)