Potamotrygon cf. Hystrix
Potamotrygon sp. "C"
Common Names: Porcupine River Ray, Teacup Ray, Cururu River Ray, "True" Hystrix Stingray.
Distribution: Rio Negro, Brazil
Maximum Size (Disc Width): appx. 14"+
Juvenile Tank Footprint: 48"x18"
Adult Tank Footprint: 72"x30"
Feeding Habits: P. cf. Hystrix tend to very finicky eaters, especially when juvenile. They tend to only eat small live foods, such as ghost shrimp and blackworms for the first few months in captivity. Once acclimated, they can be weaned to other small prepared foods.
Info: This ray is very hard to acquire with the recent closure of the Brazilian exportation of freshwater potamotrygon. This species is not to be confused with the false P. Hystrix exported from Peru.
Confusion: Potamotrygon cf. Hystrix is often confused with the original holotype collected from Buenos Aires, Argentina. This is, by science, considered the true "P. Histrix". Fishbase.org shows a very different fish under P. Hystrix, likely the one commonly collected in Peru.
Variants: The True P. cf. Histrix from the Rio Negro, Brazil, has no only slight variations within it's very distinct pattern.
Synonyms: Potamotrygon Histrix, Potamotrygon Hystrix.