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The Fins United Initiative is excited to bring the "Underrated Elasmobranch Spotlight" series through TFUI officer Jess Myers. Learn about the sharks not shown on the big screen through her beautiful artwork!  You may have been told to do the “stingray shuffle” at some beaches as you walk through the shallow water, but would you ever think to do it while in a river? Believe it or not, some stingrays are found in freshwater! Our next Underrated Chondrichthyan is the Tiger or Rosette River ray (Potamotrygon schroederi). It belongs to a genus of stingrays called Potamotrygons, which are known for being able to live in fresh water. Unlike bonyfish, who can regulate their internal salinity by drinking and urinating, elasmobranchs retain urea (a compound found in urine) to regulate the amount of salt in their bodies. Bull sharks are able to lower their urea levels so they can tolerate freshwater. The Potamotrygons, however, have evolved with no urea! The Tiger ray is found in South American rivers and grows to be just under 2 ft (0.6m). what underrated chondrichthyan do you think shark week should showcase?
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AuthorTFUI Founder Melissa C. Marquez is author of all animal bios and "Behind the Fins" segments. SEE MELISSA'S TEDx TALK HERE:
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