Tennessee Aquarium - Amazing Animals Freshwater Stingray Potamotrygon sp. Most people associate stingrays with the ocean. There are, however, several species of stingrays found only in freshwater. Most freshwater rays are found in South America, but there are a few species found in Southeast Asia and Africa. South American stingrays are in the genus Potamotrygon and generally have very attractive bodies or mantles.
Freshwater stingrays can have up to three venomous spines in their tails.
Envenomation generally occurs when people wade into stingray habitats or when fishermen attempt to remove the hooks from them. The sting is described as quite painful and although no deaths have been reported, some people may have severe reactions to the venom. Like all stingrays, freshwater rays are ovoviviparous. The eggs develop internally and the female gives birth to live young. Baby stingrays, or pups, are miniature replicas of their parents and begin feeding on small worms and crustaceans soon after they absorb their yolk sacs.