Discus Stingray
CR

Discus Stingray

Paratrygon aiereba

Declining

Photo: Wikimedia Commons (CC) via https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paratrygon_aiereba

Overview

Paratrygon aiereba also known as discus ray, manzana ray or ceja ray is a river stingray from the Amazon basin in South America.

Paratrygon aiereba faces severe population declines primarily due to overfishing and habitat degradation throughout its Amazon basin range. Dam construction and river modification have fragmented populations and altered critical spawning habitats. The species' slow reproductive rate and specialized habitat requirements make it particularly vulnerable to fishing pressure, while deforestation increases sedimentation that degrades water quality in its preferred deep river channels.

Threat summary

Habitat

This freshwater stingray inhabits deep river channels and sandy bottoms of major Amazon tributaries, particularly the Tocantins, Araguaia, and Xingu river systems. It prefers areas with moderate to strong currents and clean, well-oxygenated water typically found in the main river channels rather than floodplain lakes.

Wetlands (inland)· majorWetlands (inland) - Permanent rivers/streams· major

Conservation measures underway

LegislationPolicies and regulations

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Lyophyllum deliberatum

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Frequently asked questions

Why is Discus Stingray classified as Critically Endangered?
Discus Stingray is classified as Critically Endangered — facing an extremely high risk of extinction in the wild — because population sizes are very small, declining sharply, or restricted to a tiny range. Paratrygon aiereba faces severe population declines primarily due to overfishing and habitat degradation throughout its Amazon basin range. Dam construction and river modification have fragmented populations and altered critical spawning habitats. The species' slow reproductive rate and specialized habitat requirements make it particularly vulnerable to fishing pressure, while deforestation increases sedimentation that degrades water quality in its preferred deep river channels.
Where does Discus Stingray live?
Discus Stingray occurs in Austria, Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, and Guyana (plus 2 other countries). Country-level distribution data is sourced from the IUCN Red List and cross-referenced with GBIF occurrences.
What are the main threats to Discus Stingray?
The main threats to Discus Stingray are 1.1, 11.1, 11.2, and 2.1. The full IUCN-classified threat record for this species is detailed on the species page.

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