# Xingu River ray (*Potamotrygon leopoldi*) The Xingu River ray is a beautiful fish that lives in the rivers of Brazil. It has a flat body and a long tail, making it look like a flying saucer swimming in the water! - **Category:** [Fish](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/fish) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 2/5 · Low - **Habitat:** Freshwater rivers ![Xingu River ray](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Potamotrygon_leopoldi_Natural_History_Museum_University_of_Pisa.jpg&width=800) Photo: Mattia Nocciola, CC BY-SA 4.0 · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Potamotrygon_leopoldi_Natural_History_Museum_University_of_Pisa.jpg) ## Appearance The Xingu River ray is a striking freshwater ray with a flattened, circular disc-shaped body. Its velvety black skin is adorned with vibrant, irregularly shaped yellow or orange spots, creating a unique and eye-catching pattern that distinguishes it. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Animalia - **Phylum:** Chordata - **Class:** Elasmobranchii - **Order:** Myliobatiformes - **Family:** Potamotrygonidae - **Genus:** Potamotrygon ## Interesting facts - Each Xingu River ray has unique spot patterns, like a fingerprint! - Their bodies contain cartilage, not bones, making them super flexible! - They are also known as the "Black Devil Ray" due to their dark color! - Unlike ocean rays, these rays live their whole lives in freshwater rivers! ## Special abilities - **Electric Vision:** Xingu River ray can 'see' electric fields generated by prey hidden in the substrate because of special sensors, helping them hunt. - **Venomous Tail Sting:** Xingu River ray has a sharp, venomous barb on its tail that helps them defend against predators if threatened. - **Stealth Glider:** Xingu River ray has a flat, disc-shaped body that helps them glide silently along riverbeds and hide effectively. ## Measurements & details - **Length:** 20-70 cm - **Weight:** 1-3 kg - **Lifespan:** 8-15 years - **Swim Speed:** 8 km/h - **Maximum Depth:** 5 m - **Water Type:** Freshwater ## Diet & Feeding Tiny bugs, worms, and small fish are what this ray loves to eat from the riverbed! - **Primary Foods:** insect larvae, small crustaceans, aquatic worms, small fish - **Foraging Method:** Foraging ## Ecological connections - **Eats:** Bloodworm (*Chironomus riparius*) — Their larvae are a common food source in riverbeds. - **Eats:** Amazon River Prawn (*Macrobrachium amazonicum*) — These small crustaceans are a favorite meal for the ray. - **Eaten by:** Spotted Sorubim (*Pseudoplatystoma corruscans*) — Juvenile rays can become prey for larger predatory catfish. ## Traits - [Spotted](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/spotted): Marked with spots or patches of a different color. - [Solitary](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/solitary): Solitary animals live alone for most of their lives, only interacting with others for mating or parental care. - [Colorful](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/colorful): Colorful describes organisms or objects displaying a wide range of bright and distinct colors. - [Gliding](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/gliding): Gliding animals move through the air by launching themselves and maintaining flight with specialized body structures, without flapping wings. - [Carnivorous](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/carnivorous): This trait identifies organisms whose diet consists entirely or primarily of animal tissue. - [Electrogenic](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/electrogenic): This trait describes organisms capable of generating electric fields or electric shocks. - [Freshwater](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/freshwater): Freshwater habitats include non-saline aquatic environments such as rivers, lakes, ponds, and wetlands, vital for numerous species. - [Endangered](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/endangered): Endangered status indicates a species is at a very high risk of extinction in the wild in the near future. ## Collections - [Fish](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/fish) ## Safety **Danger:** 2/5 · Low Always watch from a distance and never touch wild fish in the water. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify Xingu River ray? Look at body shape, where the fins sit and their outline, mouth position, stripes and spots. Young fish and breeding adults can wear different patterns, and aquarium color varieties can look nothing like wild fish. Fish Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details. ### How long is Xingu River ray? 20-70 cm ### How much does Xingu River ray weigh? 1-3 kg ### How long does Xingu River ray live? 8-15 years ### What does Xingu River ray eat? Tiny bugs, worms, and small fish are what this ray loves to eat from the riverbed! ### How fast can Xingu River ray swim? 8 km/h ### Where is Xingu River ray usually found? Freshwater rivers ### How does Xingu River ray hunt? Foraging ## More Fish - [Rainbow Trout](https://www.snappit.app/explore/rainbow-trout) (*Oncorhynchus mykiss*) - [Brown Trout](https://www.snappit.app/explore/brown-trout) (*Salmo trutta*) - [Brook Trout](https://www.snappit.app/explore/brook-trout) (*Salvelinus fontinalis*) - [Lake Trout](https://www.snappit.app/explore/lake-trout) (*Salvelinus namaycush*) --- Source: [Xingu River ray: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/xingu-river-ray)