Stingrays are usually associated with coastal waters, but some species have adapted to life far from the sea. In South America, freshwater stingrays inhabit rivers, floodplains, lagoons and lakes. Their presence is especially striking in seasonal floodplain systems, where changing water levels can connect lakes with rivers and flooded forests. Lake Maracaibo in Venezuela is home to the endangered Maracaibo River Stingray, while Brazil’s Lake Arari, Janauacá Lake and Catalão Lake support freshwater stingray species associated with the Amazon basin. Catalão Lake is particularly notable because it has been identified as a reproductive area for the Ocellate River Stingray.
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