PulseExploreJournal ClubDebatesTrendingResearchersJournals
Instagram
HomeExploreJournal ClubTrending
Synapse
⌘+K
Synapse
June 4, 2026Aquatic Conservation Marine and Freshwater Ecosystems0 citations

Long‐Distance Movement by a Giant Freshwater Stingray, Potamotrygon brachyura , Challenges Our View on Movement Ecology and Management of Obligate Freshwater Elasmobranchs

View Full Paper
DVDiego M. VazquezLLLuis O. Lucifora

Key Points

  • The study investigates the movement patterns of obligate freshwater elasmobranchs, specifically the giant freshwater stingray.
  • Observed a female Potamotrygon brachyura tagged and released in Argentina's lower Paraná River.
  • Monitored movement distance over time, recording a significant travel of approximately 170 km.
  • The giant freshwater stingray traveled 170 km, the longest recorded for an obligate freshwater elasmobranch.
  • Findings indicate that large-bodied freshwater obligates can cover extensive distances, necessitating wider conservation strategies.

Abstract

ABSTRACT Freshwater elasmobranchs, both euryhaline and obligate species, are poorly understood and highly threatened with extinction globally. Euryhaline species can move tens to thousands of kilometres, whereas obligate species studied so far typically moved < 10 km, supporting management at local scales. We report a female giant freshwater stingray, Potamotrygon brachyura , that moved approximately 170 km after being tagged and released in Argentina's lower Paraná River. This is by far the longest movement distance ever recorded for an obligate freshwater elasmobranch worldwide. This suggests large‐bodied freshwater obligates can move over broad spatial scales, requiring wider‐scale conservation and management strategies than previously thought.

Ask AI
Helpful
Bookmark
Share
View Full Paper

Cite This Study

Vazquez et al. (2026) studied this question.

synapsesocial.com/papers/6a211852d499ed480b170e53https://doi.org/10.1002/aqc.70400
Ask AI
Helpful
Bookmark
Share
View Full Paper