Molecular phylogeny for the Neotropical freshwater stingrays (Myliobatiformes: Potamotrygoninae) reveals limitations of traditional taxonomy

Abstract The subfamily Potamotrygoninae, the only extant clade of elasmobranchs exclusive to freshwater environments, encompasses four genera and 38 species distributed across almost every major South American river basin. Despite their importance in the ornamental fish trade, the taxonomy and evolutionary relationships within potamotrygonines have not yet been resolved. Here, we present a comprehensive molecular phylogeny for the Neotropical freshwater stingrays, based on extensive species and population sampling (35 species and > 350 individuals from drainages across South America). Our phylogeny corroborates the monophyly of the genera Paratrygon and Heliotrygon and the monophyly of the Potamotrygon + Plesiotrygon clade. Within the Potamotrygon + Plesiotrygon clade, we identify a core Potamotrygon clade characterized by short branches, low nodal support and incongruence with current species-level taxonomy. In the core Potamotrygon clade, specimens of widespread species, such as Potamotrygon motoro and Potamotrygon orbignyi, do not form monophyletic lineages; instead, specimens from these species are often closely related to those of other species from the same river basins. These patterns could be caused by inaccurate taxonomy, hybridization, incomplete lineage sorting and rapid diversification. We discuss the conservation of Neotropical freshwater stingrays from a phylogenetic perspective and suggest ways to prioritize potamotrygonid conservation efforts with respect to endemism and evolutionary distinctiveness.