Arapaima

Arapaima gigas · The arapaima is one of the largest freshwater fish in the world, native to the basin of the Amazon River.

Also called Pirarucu, Paiche.

Arapaima
Photo: Shizhao, CC BY-SA 3.0
Arapaima
Photo: ちぐえ, CC BY-SA 4.0
Arapaima
Photo: Fernando Jose Cantele, CC BY-SA 4.0

Taxonomy

KingdomAnimalia
PhylumChordata
ClassActinopterygii
OrderOsteoglossiformes
FamilyArapaimidae
GenusArapaima
SpeciesArapaima gigas

Where it lives

Rivers, floodplain lakes and swamps of the Amazon basin.

Fun facts

  • Arapaima must gulp air at the surface every 5–15 minutes, using a modified swim bladder with lung-like tissue.
  • Arapaima have flexible, armor-like scales that help protect them from piranha attacks.
  • Arapaima grow fast, reaching about 10 kg in their first year.
  • Baby arapaima switch from breathing water to breathing air just 8–9 days after hatching.

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Facts and taxonomy adapted from Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0).