Author: (Müller & Henle, 1841)
FBname: South American freshwater stingray
Remark: Authorship of species is credited to Müller & Henle (1841) and not Naterrer (who collected the type specimen) as in Rosa (1985a). A widespread species that may require further subdivision after more study. Studies of its reproductive biology indicate that females attain sexual maturity between 24 and 32 cm DW (males between 20 and 30 cm DW), and may produce from three to 21 embryos per gestation (Achenbach & Achencbach, 1976) or only six or seven (Thorson et al., 1983b; these differences may be populational). Larger specimens may weigh 10 kg. This species has been captively bred in aquaria, but is still the most comercially imported species by the aquarium industry. Additional references: Bertin (1939), Castex & Castello (1970b), Achenbach & Achenbach (1976), Thorson et al. (1983b), Sérét & McEachran (1986), Ortega & Vari (1986), Paepke & Schmidt (1988), Barriga (1991), Compagno & Cook (1995), Lasso et al. (1997a), Ferreira et al. (1998), Britski et al. (1999).
Comments: Found in freshwater rivers.  It is an extremely dangerous species.  Maximum length reported in Axelrod et al., 1991 (Ref. 6398)  is 100 cm TL.