Arapaima +

Did you know?

Arapaimas are one of the largest freshwater predator fish – lengths of up to 4 metres have been reported. Today, the animals hardly grow longer than 2 metres due to overfishing. People also call them pirarucu (red fish) because of their red encircled flippers. Arapaimas are soughtafter food fish especially because of their meat that is rich in fat. Status according to Red List: data deficient

Classification:

Order bonytongues and relatives, family bonytongues

Diet:

Fishes, insects and crustaceans as well as frogs, birds and small swimming mammals

Habitat:

Lotic rivers and waters abundantly covered with vegetation and periodic flooding, especially in the Amazon and the Orinoco

Reproduction:

Breeding pairs spawn up tp 100,000 eggs in the ground; spawn is being guarded by both parents