Description

Vertebrae: 108 - 122. Diagnosis: Dasyatis ukpam is a very large and thick-bodied freshwater dasyatid (Ref. 26277). Entire dorsal surface of disc covered with stout-spined denticles, smooth in newborn (Ref. 26277). Sting greatly reduced in size or absent (Ref. 26277).

Common Names

No common names available.

Taxonomic Hierarchy

Kingdom: Animalia

Phylum: Chordata

Class: Elasmobranchii

Order: Myliobatiformes

Family: Dasyatidae

Genus: Fontitrygon

Species: Fontitrygon ukpam (Smith, 1863)

Climate Zone

Location

Biology

Benthic species mostly in lakes and rives, found more than 240 km upstream from the sea (possibly also coastal). The life history and present status of populations in West Africa is unknown. Type specimens were born after capture of the mother; few specimens exist (Ref. 114953). Ovoviviparous (Ref. 50449).

Habitat

brackish