Ocellate River Stingray
Calm water, sandy substrates
Unknown
Up to 15 years
Up to 2 ft in diameter
Small mollusks, crustaceans, insects
Also known as the peacock-eye stingray, the ocellate river stingray is one of the most widespread freshwater stingrays. These stingrays migrate within freshwater rivers and streams throughout South America. Like all stingrays, the ocellate stingray is ovoviviparous, meaning a female stingray will develop and hatch eggs inside of her, then have a live birth. To detect predators, the ocellate stingray utilizes its nearly 360° field of vision, olfactory organs and elaborate electroreceptor system that can detect low-frequency electrical stimuli that cannot be visually perceived. The serrated, venomous spine on the tip of the ray’s tail also serves as a deterrent for predators. You can see our ocellate river stingray in the Unseen New World.