The Suriname Freshwater Stingray belongs to the “ocellate group” of the Potamotrygon. The main differences from other Potamotrygon species are the dorsal ocelli contour and number of teeth (Rosa et al. 2008, Last et al. 2016). It is similar to Potamotrygon ocellata, which has only a few specimens collected, however, the Suriname Freshwater Stingray differs in number of tooth rows and there is geographical isolation between the two species distributions (Rosa et al. 2008).

The Suriname Freshwater Stingray (Potamotrygon boesemani) is a small (to 43 cm disc width) freshwater stingray endemic to the Corantijn River Basin in Guyana and Suriname. The species’ valuable colour pattern has led to exploitation for the international ornamental aquarium trade for over a decade. It is also expected that fishing for consumption may become a concern in the near future. Its habitat is threatened by mining activities in the Corantijn River Basin. A population reduction of 20–29% is suspected over the past three generation lengths (24 years) based on habitat degradation due to mining activities. Moreover, it has a limited geographic range with an extent of occurrence of 22,645 km² and only two locations, and it is subject to continuing decline in habitat quality. It is suspected that mining is the single threatening event affecting these locations. Based on its restricted geographic range, continuing decline in habitat quality, and exploitation for the aquarium trade, the Suriname Freshwater Stingray is assessed as Near Threatened (nearly meeting Vulnerable A2cd; B1ab(iii)).

The Suriname Freshwater Stingray is endemic to the Corantijn River Basin, where it is found in the Suriname districts of Sipaliwini and Nickerie (Rosa et al. 2008, Last et al. 2016). It is probably also found on the Guiana side of the Corantijn River. It is known from two locations with an area of occupancy of 16,468 km² and an extent of occurrence of 22,645 km². This relatively small extent of occurrence, combined with occurrence in two locations and continuing decline in habitat quality, almost meets the threshold and conditions for Vulnerable under criterion B1 (VU B1ab(iii)).

There is no information available on the population size, structure, or trend for the species. There has been unregulated trade of the species over the last decade for the international ornamental aquarium trade and its habitat has been degraded due to mining activities (Mol et al. 2012, Verheij 2019). Thus, taking a precautionary approach, the Suriname Freshwater Stingray is suspected to have undergone a population reduction of at least 20–29% over the past three generation lengths (24 years) due to the decline in habitat quality and levels of exploitation.

The Suriname Freshwater Stingray is only known to date from freshwater habitats. It is demersal and there is only information on a few specimens. The maximum size recorded is 43 cm disc width (DW), and male size-at-maturity is at least 38 cm DW (Rosa et al. 2008, Last et al. 2016). No further biological information on the species is known. There are no age parameters available for this species, however, generation length was estimated as 8 years based on estimates of age parameters from related genera and families (Potamotrygonidae, Dasyatidae, and Urotrygonidae) (Lucifora et al. 2022).

The presence of Suriname Freshwater Stingray in the ornamental market is a direct threat. Only recently has an export quota been established after over a decade of exploitation without regulation (Verheij 2019). Furthermore, overfishing for consumption in general is reported to have been decreasing the fish species diversity within the distribution range of the Suriname Freshwater Stingray (Mol et al. 2012). Although there is no confirmation of Suriname Freshwater Stingray being consumed until now, with the overfishing and local extinctions in the area it might become targeted soon. There are also licences for mining extraction on the Corantijn Basin that directly affect the species habitat and can do so rapidly through mining related events that rapidly degrade water and habitat quality (Wilink et al. 2012).

Due to Suriname Freshwater Stingray’s bright colour pattern and aquarium traders' allegedly high survival rate in captivity, this species has a high value in the international market (Verheij 2019, P. Charvet pers. obs. 2021). There is no information on the species being used for human consumption.

Some Potamotrygonidae were listed under the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) Appendix III in 2017 mainly to improve trade data. However, the Suriname Freshwater Stingray was not listed in Appendix III (CITES 2017) and neither in the recent addition of other related Potamotrygon species under CITES Appendix II (CITES 2023). Further research is needed on population size and trends, and life history, and catch rates should be monitored.