It was the first species to be described in the family and is also the most widespread, ranging throughout much of the Río de la Plata, Amazon, Mearim and Orinoco basins in tropical and subtropical South America.

[3] Potamotrygon motoro varies significantly in appearance and morphology over its large range,[4] and a taxonomic review of the Amazonian populations is expected.

[2] Two highly distinctive Amazonian types completely lack black-edged yellow-orange spots: The so-called "mantilla ray", CD4, in Peru and adjacent parts of Brazil, and the similar but paler CD5 from rivers near Marajó.

The dorsal coloration is typically beige or brown, with numerous yellow-orange spots with dark rings.

[4] Individuals from the Rio Negro and Orinoco basins (which are connected by the Casiquiare canal) are similar to each other and informally known as CD3, but differ from P. motoro elsewhere.