Thanks to Hector Vera Alcaraz for identifying the species in this image gallery.
Designed by Paul Smith 2006. This website is copyrighted by law. Material contained herewith may not be used without the prior written permission of FAUNA Paraguay. Photographs on this web-site were taken by Paul Smith, Hemme Batjes, Regis Nossent,
Alberto Esquivel, Arne Lesterhuis, Rebbeca Zarza, José Luis Cartes and Hugo del Castillo and are used with their permission.
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FIGURE 1 - Ocellated River Ray Potamotrygon motoro - Encarnación, Departamento Itapúa (Paul Smith January 2008).
FIGURE 2 - Same individual lateral and ventral views (Paul Smith January 2008).
FIGURE 3 - Ocellated River Ray variation Potamotrygon motoro (tail removed) - Encarnación, Departamento Itapúa (Paul Smith January 2008).
FIGURE 4 - Ocellated River Ray heavily-spotted variation Potamotrygon motoro (tail removed) - Encarnación, Departamento Itapúa (Paul Smith January 2008).
FIGURE 5 - Ocellated River Ray Potamotrygon motoro live born juveniles - Encarnación, Departamento Itapúa (Paul Smith January 2008).
POTAMOTRYGONIDAE - RIVER STINGRAYS
Flattened relatives of the sharks, the river rays are bottom-dwelling cartilaginous fish. They swim by a series of rhythmic vibrations of the outer margin of the body disk - modified fins. Members of this family possess a stiff defensive spine at the base of the tail which is capable of inflicting a sever wound on the unwary fisherman! Stingrays give birth to live, almost fully-formed young and pregnant females that are captured frequently expel young as a reflex.
