The arapaima, pirarucu, or paiche is any large species of bonytongue in the genus Arapaima native to the Amazon and Essequibo basins of South America. Arapaima is the type genus of the subfamily Arapaiminae within the family Osteoglossidae. [1][2][3] They are among the world's largest freshwater fish, reaching as much as 3 m (9.8 ft) in length. [2] They are an important food fish. They have ...
Ten Fascinating Facts About the Arapaima, the Largest Freshwater Fish in South America A keystone species of the Amazon River ecosystem, the arapaima is a powerful predator known by many names.
Arapaima Profile Before the Amazon rainforest became known for cheap cow feed and rampant deforestation, it was infamous for hiding innumerable secrets. Lost civilisations, overgrown pyramids and jungle monsters found nowhere else on the planet. To this day, the forest still releases 20 billion tonnes of water into the air every day, stores up to 200 billion tonnes of carbon and contains some ...
The Arapaima (Arapaima gigas, though recent research suggests multiple species exist within the genus) is one of the largest freshwater fish on Earth, regularly reaching lengths of over 6.5 feet (2 meters) and weights exceeding 220 pounds (100 kg). Exceptional specimens have been reported to grow even larger, pushing towards 10 feet (3 meters) and 440 pounds (200 kg). Its body is elongated and ...
Also known as the paiche or the pirarucu, the arapaima is an air-breathing fish that plies the rainforest rivers of South America's Amazon Basin and nearby lakes and swamps.
The arapaima is a massive yet sleek, streamlined freshwater fish native to the streams of the Amazon River basin. It can breathe air, allowing it to survive in pools with low water levels or decaying vegetation.