Potamotrygon Leopoldi - Black Diamond
Common Names: Black Island Leopoldi Ray
Distribution: Sao Felix, Xingu River Basin, Brazil
Maximum Size (Disc Width): appx. 18"
Juvenile Tank Footprint: 72"x18"
Adult Tank Footprint: 96"x36"
Feeding Habits: P. Leopoldi tend to finicky eaters at first, but once acclimated they have good feeding habits. Leopoldi usually accept specialty live foods upon arrival, and wean to prepared foods easily.
Info: Potamotrygon Leopoldi - "Black Island" is believed by many to be a seperate species of it's own, as well as the Black Diamond variant. Many would call this ray Potamotrygon "Itaituba", because of the region it is collected from. It is distinguished from normal Leopoldi by it's differentiated pattern and extra spotting around the disc margin, smaller maximum size, and a mottled underside. Until further genetic DNA testing is done to scientifically classify each species separately, they will be listed as Leopoldi variants.
Variants: Potamotrygon Leopoldi has a number of color and pattern variants, including "Black Isle, Black Diamond, Eclipse, Itaituba"
Synonyms: Trygon Garrapa, Potamotrygon Garrapa, Potamotrygon Leopoldi.