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Arapaima gigas (Schinz, 1822)

Description

Common Names

  • Arapaima velká , Czech , Czechia
  • Arapajma obrovská , Czech , Czechia
  • Arapaima , Danish , Denmark
  • Arapaima , English , USA
  • Arapaima , English , Global
  • Arapaima , English , Philippines
  • Giant arapaima , English , USA
  • Pirarucu , English , UK
  • Arapaima , Estonian , Estonia
  • Harilik arapaima , Estonian , Estonia
  • Arapaima , Finnish , Finland
  • Arapaïma , French , France
  • Paiche , French , France
  • Pirarucu , French , France
  • Pirarucu , French , Global
  • Arapaima , German , Germany
  • Paiche , German , Germany
  • Piracurù , German , Germany
  • 巨巴西骨舌魚(引進) , Mandarin Chinese , China
  • 巨巴西骨舌鱼(引进) , Mandarin Chinese , China
  • 巨骨舌鱼 , Mandarin Chinese , China
  • Arapaima , Polish , Poland
  • Bodeco , Portuguese , Brazil
  • Pirarucú , Portuguese , Brazil
  • Pirarucu , Portuguese , Brazil
  • Pirosca , Portuguese (Brazilianism) , Brazil
  • Pira urucu , Portuguese (Tupi) , Brazil
  • Pirarucu preto , Portuguese (Tupi) , Brazil
  • Pirarucu vermelho , Portuguese (Tupi) , Brazil
  • Arapaima , Russian , Russia
  • арапайма , Russian , Russia
  • Arapajma , Slovene , Slovenia
  • Arapaima , Spanish , Spain
  • Paiche , Spanish , Ecuador
  • Paiche , Spanish , Peru
  • Paiche , Spanish , Spain
  • Paiche , Spanish , Spain
  • Arapaima , Swedish , Sweden

    • Taxonomic Hierarchy

    Kingdom: Animalia

    Phylum: Chordata

    Class: Teleostei

    Order: Osteoglossiformes

    Family: Arapaimidae

    Genus: Arapaima

    Species: Arapaima gigas (Schinz, 1822)

    Climate Zone

  • Tropical

    • Location

  • South America: Amazon River basin. The active fishing of this fish has reduced both the population size, and occurrence of large individuals, especially around the populated regions of the Amazon (Ref. 50891).

    • Biology

    Obligate air-breathing (Ref. 126274); Often referred to as the largest freshwater fish. Builds a nest of about 15 cm depth and 50 cm width in sandy bottoms. Spawns in April and May and guards the eggs and the young. Obligate air breather. The fish rises to the surface of the water and inspires air in a noisy, distinctive gulp, which is reported to carry for long distances (Ref. 50891). Migrates into higher floodplain habitats with rising water and moves back eventually to lacustrine habitats during low water level (Ref. 116898). Threatened due to over harvesting (Ref. 58490).

    Habitat

    demersal