Amazon giant fish name. Arapaima fish
The giant arapaima is one of the largest and least studied fish in the world. Those descriptions of fish that are found in the literature are borrowed mainly from unreliable stories of travelers.
It’s even strange how little has been done so far to deepen our knowledge of the biology and behavior of the arapaima. For years it was mercilessly fished both in the Peruvian and Brazilian parts of the Amazon, and in its many tributaries. At the same time, no one cared about studying it or thought about preserving it. The schools of fish seemed inexhaustible. And only when the number of fish began to noticeably decrease did interest in it appear.
Arapaima is one of the largest freshwater fish in the world. Representatives of this species live in the Amazon River basin in Brazil, Guyana and Peru. Adults reach 2.5 m in length and weigh up to 200 kg. The uniqueness of arapaima is its ability to breathe air. Due to its archaic morphology, the fish is considered a living fossil. In Brazil, its fishing is allowed only once a year. Initially, fish were caught using harpoons when they rose to breathe on the surface.
Today it is caught mainly with nets. Let's look at this in more detail..
Photo 2. 
In the photo: a view of the Amazon river from the window of the Cessna 208 amphibious aircraft that brought photographer Bruno Kelly from Manaus to the village of Medio Jurua, municipality of Carauari, Amazonas state, Brazil, September 3, 2012.
REUTERS/Bruno Kelly
In Brazil, giant fish were placed in ponds in the hope that they would take root there. In eastern Peru, in the jungles of Loreto province, certain areas of rivers and a number of lakes are left as a reserve fund. Fishing here is allowed only with a license from the Ministry of Agriculture.
Arapaima lives throughout the Amazon basin. To the east it is found in two areas separated by the black and acidic waters of the Rio Negro. There are no arapaima in the Rio Negro, but the river does not seem to be an insurmountable barrier for the fish. Otherwise, one would have to assume the existence of two species of fish, having different origins and living north and south of this river.
The western area of distribution of the arapaima is probably Rio Moro, to the east of it is Rio Pastaza and Lake Rimachi, where a huge amount of fish is found. This is Peru's second protected breeding and observation pond for arapaima.
An adult arapaima is colored very picturesquely: the color of its back varies from bluish-black to metallic green, its belly - from cream to greenish-white, its sides and tail are silver-gray. Each of its huge scales shimmers in every possible shade of red (in Brazil the fish is called pirarucu, which means red fish).
Photo 3. 
Rocking in time with the movements of the fishermen, a small canoe floated along the mirror-like surface of the Amazon. Suddenly the water at the bow of the boat began to swirl like a whirlpool, and the mouth of a giant fish stuck out, exhaling air with a whistle. The fishermen looked in shock at the monster, twice the height of a man, covered with a scaly shell. And the giant splashed his blood-red tail - and disappeared into the depths...
If a Russian fisherman told such a thing, he would immediately be laughed at. Who is not familiar with fishing tales: either a giant fish falls off a hook, or the local Nessie appears in your dreams. But in the Amazon, meeting a giant is a reality.
Arapaima is one of the largest freshwater fish. There were specimens 4.5 m long! Nowadays you don't see such people. Since 1978, the record of the Rio Negro River (Brazil) has been held, where an arapaima was caught with data of 2.48 m - 147 kg (the price of a kilogram of tender and tasty meat, almost without bones, far exceeds the monthly income of Amazonian fishermen. In North America it can be seen in antique stores).
Photo 4. 
This strange creature looks like a representative of the era of dinosaurs. Yes, it is true: a living fossil has not changed in 135 million years. The tropical Goliath has adapted to the swampy swamps of the Amazon basin: a bladder attached to the esophagus acts like a lung, the arapaima pokes out of the water every 10-15 minutes. She, as it were, “patrolls” the Amazon basin, captures small fish in her mouth and grinds them with the help of a bony, rough tongue (locals use it as sandpaper).
Photo 5. 
These giants live in freshwater bodies of South America, in particular in the eastern and western parts of the Amazon River basin (in the Rio Morona, Rio Pastaza and Lake Rimachi rivers). A huge number of arapaima are found in these places. There is not much of this fish in the Amazon itself, because... she prefers quiet rivers with a weak current and a lot of vegetation. A body of water with rugged banks and a large number of floating plants is an ideal place for its habitat and existence.
Photo 6. 
According to local residents, this fish can reach 4 meters in length and weigh about 200 kilograms. But arapaima is a valuable commercial fish, so now such huge specimens are practically impossible to find in nature. Nowadays, most often we come across specimens no more than 2-2.5 meters. But still giants can be found, for example, in special aquariums or nature reserves.
Photo 7. 
Previously, arapaima were caught in large quantities and no thought was given to its population. Now, when the stocks of these fish have noticeably decreased, in some countries of South America, for example in eastern Peru, there are areas of rivers and lakes that are strictly protected and fishing in these places is allowed only with a license from the Ministry of Agriculture. And even then in limited quantities.
Photo 8. 
An adult can reach 3-4 meters. The powerful body of the fish is covered with large scales, which shimmer in various shades of red. This is especially noticeable in its tail part. For this, local residents gave the fish another name - pirarucu, which translates as “red fish”. The fish themselves have different colors - from “metallic green” to bluish-black.
Photo 9. 
Her respiratory system is very unusual. The pharynx and swim bladder of the fish are covered with lung tissue, which allows the fish to breathe normal air. This adaptation has developed due to the low oxygen content in the waters of these freshwater rivers. Thanks to this, arapaima can easily survive drought.
Photo 10. 
The breathing style of this fish cannot be confused with anyone else. When they rise to the surface for a breath of fresh air, small whirlpools begin to form on the water surface, and then the fish itself appears in this place with a huge open mouth. All this action lasts literally a couple of seconds. She releases the “old” air and takes a new sip, the mouth closes sharply and the fish goes into the depths. Adults breathe like this every 10-15 minutes, young ones - a little more often.
Photo 11. 
These fish have special glands on their heads that secrete special mucus. But you’ll find out what it’s for a little later.
Photo 12. 
These giants feed on bottom fish, and sometimes they can snack on small animals, such as birds. For juveniles, the main dish is freshwater shrimp.
Photo 13. 
The breeding season of pirarucu occurs in November. But they begin to create pairs already in August-September. These giants are very caring parents, especially the males. Here I immediately remembered how male “sea dragons” take care of their offspring. These fish are not far behind them. The male digs a shallow hole with a diameter of about 50 centimeters near the shore. The female lays eggs in it. Then, throughout the entire period of development and maturation of the eggs, the male remains next to the clutch. He guards the eggs and swims next to the “nest,” while the females drive away the fish swimming nearby.
Photo 14. 
A week later the fry are born. The male is still next to them. Or maybe they are with him? The young stay in a dense flock near his head, and they even rise together to breathe. But how does a male manage to discipline his children like that? There is a secret. Remember, I mentioned special glands on the heads of adults. So, the mucus that is secreted by these glands contains a stable substance that attracts fry. This is what makes them stick together. But after 2.5-3 months, when the young animals grow a little, these flocks break up. The bond between parents and children weakens.
Photo 38. 
Once upon a time, the meat of these monsters was the staple food of the peoples of the Amazon. Since the late 1960s, arapaima have disappeared completely in many rivers: after all, only large fish were killed with a harpoon, but nets made it possible to catch small ones. The government has banned the sale of arapaima less than one and a half meters long, but the taste, which can only be rivaled by trout and salmon, pushes people to break the law. Breeding arapaima in artificial pools with heated water is promising: they grow as much as five times faster than carp!
Photo 15. 
However, here is the opinion of K. X. Luling:
The literature of past legions significantly exaggerates the size of the arapaima. These exaggerations began, to some extent, with the descriptions of R. Chaumbourk in the book “Fishes of British Guiana,” written after a trip to Guiana in 1836. Shom-Bourke writes that the fish can reach a length of 14 feet (ft = 0.305 meters) and weigh up to 400 pounds (pound = 0.454 kilograms). However, this information was received by the author second-hand - from the words of the local population - he personally did not have evidence to support such data. In a well-known book on the fishes of the world, McCormick expresses doubts about the reliability of these stories. After analyzing all the available and more or less reliable information, he comes to the conclusion that representatives of the arapaima species never exceed a length of 9 feet - a fairly respectable size for a freshwater fish.
From my own experience I was convinced that McCormick was right. The animals we caught in Rio Pacaya averaged 6 feet in length. The largest fish was a female, 7 feet long and weighing 300 pounds. Obviously, the illustration from old editions of Brem's book Animal Life, which depicted an Indian sitting on the back of a pirarucu, 12 to 15 feet long, should be considered an obvious fantasy.
The distribution of arapaima in certain areas of the river seems to depend more on the vegetation growing there than on the nature of the water itself. For fish, a strongly indented shore with a wide strip of coastal floating plants, which, intertwined, form floating meadows, is necessary.
For this reason alone, fast-flowing rivers like the Amazon are unsuitable for the existence of arapaima. The bottom of the Amazon always remains smooth and uniform, so there are few floating plants here; those that exist are usually tangled among bushes and hanging branches.
On Rio Pacaya we found arapaima in backwaters where, in addition to floating meadows of aquatic grasses, floating mimosas and hyacinths grew. Elsewhere these species may have been replaced by floating ferns, Victoria regia and a few others. The giant fish between the plants is invisible.
It is perhaps not surprising that arapaima prefer to breathe air rather than the oxygen of the swampy waters in which they live.
Photo 16. 
The arapaima's way of inhaling air is very characteristic. When a large fish approaches the surface, a whirlpool first forms on the water surface. Then suddenly the fish itself appears with its mouth open. She quickly releases the air, making a clicking sound, inhales fresh air and immediately plunges into the depths.
Fishermen hunting for arapaima use the whirlpool that forms on the surface of the water to determine where to throw the harpoon. They throw their heavy weapon right into the middle of the whirlpool and in most cases miss the target. But the fact is that giant fish often live in small bodies of water, 60-140 meters long, and whirlpools are constantly formed here, and therefore the likelihood of a harpoon hitting an animal increases. Adults appear on the surface every 10-15 minutes, young ones more often.
Having reached a certain size, arapaima switches to the fish table, specializing mainly in bottom-shelled fish. The stomachs of arapaima most often contain the spiny spines of the pectoral fins of these fish.
In Rio Pacaya, obviously, the living conditions for the Arapaima are the most favorable. The fish that live here reach maturity within four to five years. By this time, they are approximately six feet long and weigh between 80 and 100 pounds. It is believed (although not proven) that some, and perhaps all, adults breed twice a year.
One day I was lucky enough to observe a pair of arapaima preparing for spawning. Everything happened in the clear and still waters of the quiet bay of Rio Pacai. The behavior of arapaima during spawning and their subsequent care of the offspring is truly an amazing sight.
Photo 17. 
In all likelihood, the fish dig out the spawning hole in the soft clay bottom with its mouth. In the quiet bay where we made observations, the fish chose a spawning site located only five feet below the surface. For several days the male remained within this place, and the female almost all the time stayed 10-15 meters away from him.
The young, having hatched from the eggs, remain in the hole for about seven days. A male is always near them, either circling above the hole or perched on the side. After this, the fry rise to the surface, relentlessly following the male and keeping in a dense flock near his head. Under the supervision of the father, the entire flock rises to the surface at once to inhale the air.
At the age of seven to eight days, the fry begin to feed on plankton. Watching the fish through the still waters of our quiet bay, we did not notice that the fish raised their young “into the mouth”, that is, they would take the fish into their mouths in a moment of danger. There was also no evidence that the larvae fed on the substance secreted from the plate-shaped gills located on the heads of the parents. The local population makes a clear mistake in assuming that the young animals feed on their parents’ “milk.”
In November 1959, I was able to count 11 schools of juvenile fish in a lake of about 160 acres (an acre is about 0.4 hectares). They swam close to the shore and parallel to it. The flocks seemed to be avoiding the wind. This is probably due to the fact that the waves generated by the wind make it difficult to inhale air from the surface of the water.
We decided to see what would happen to a school of fish if it suddenly lost its parents, and we caught them. The orphaned fish, having lost contact with their parents, have obviously lost contact with each other. The close flock began to break up and eventually dispersed. After some time, we noticed that the juveniles in other flocks differed significantly from each other in size. Such a large contrast could hardly be explained by the fact that the same generation of fish developed differently. Apparently other arapaima adopted the orphans. Expanding their swimming circle after the death of their parents, the orphaned school of fish spontaneously mixed with neighboring groups.
Photo 18. 
On the head of the arapaima there are glands of a very interesting structure. On the outside, they have a whole series of small tongue-like protrusions, at the ends of which, with the help of a magnifying glass, tiny holes can be discerned. The mucus formed in the glands is released through these openings.
The secretion of these glands is not used as food, although it would seem that this is the simplest and most obvious explanation of its purpose. It performs much more important functions. Here's an example. When we pulled the male out of the water, the flock accompanying him remained for a long time in the very place from where he disappeared. And one more thing: a flock of juveniles gathers around a gauze pad, previously soaked in the male’s secretions. From both examples it follows that the male secretes a relatively stable substance, thanks to which the whole group stays together.
At the age of two and a half to three and a half months, flocks of young animals begin to disintegrate. By this time, the connection between parents and children weakens.
Photo 19. 
Residents of the village of Medio Jurua display a gutted piraruca at Lake Manaria, Carauari municipality, Amazonas state, Brazil, September 3, 2012. Pirarucu is the largest freshwater fish in South America.
REUTERS/Bruno Kelly
Photo 20. 
Photo 21. 
The giant arapaima is one of the largest and least studied fish in the world. Those descriptions of fish that are found in the literature are borrowed mainly from unreliable stories of travelers.
It’s even strange how little has been done so far to deepen our knowledge of the biology and behavior of the arapaima. For years it was mercilessly fished both in the Peruvian and Brazilian parts of the Amazon, and in its many tributaries. At the same time, no one cared about studying it or thought about preserving it. The schools of fish seemed inexhaustible. And only when the number of fish began to noticeably decrease did interest in it appear.
Arapaima is one of the largest freshwater fish in the world. Representatives of this species live in the Amazon River basin in Brazil, Guyana and Peru. Adults reach 2.5 m in length and weigh up to 200 kg. The uniqueness of arapaima is its ability to breathe air. Due to its archaic morphology, the fish is considered a living fossil. In Brazil, its fishing is allowed only once a year. Initially, fish were caught using harpoons when they rose to breathe on the surface.
Today it is caught mainly with nets. Let's look at this in more detail..
In the photo: a view of the Amazon river from the window of the Cessna 208 amphibious aircraft that brought photographer Bruno Kelly from Manaus to the village of Medio Jurua, municipality of Carauari, Amazonas state, Brazil, September 3, 2012.
In Brazil, giant fish were placed in ponds in the hope that they would take root there. In eastern Peru, in the jungles of Loreto province, certain areas of rivers and a number of lakes are left as a reserve fund. Fishing here is allowed only with a license from the Ministry of Agriculture.
Arapaima lives throughout the Amazon basin. To the east it is found in two areas separated by the black and acidic waters of the Rio Negro. There are no arapaima in the Rio Negro, but the river does not seem to be an insurmountable barrier for the fish. Otherwise, one would have to assume the existence of two species of fish, having different origins and living north and south of this river.
The western area of distribution of the arapaima is probably Rio Moro, to the east of it is Rio Pastaza and Lake Rimachi, where a huge amount of fish is found. This is Peru's second protected breeding and observation pond for arapaima.
An adult arapaima is colored very picturesquely: the color of its back varies from bluish-black to metallic green, its belly - from cream to greenish-white, its sides and tail are silver-gray. Each of its huge scales shimmers in every possible shade of red (in Brazil the fish is called pirarucu, which means red fish).
Rocking in time with the movements of the fishermen, a small canoe floated along the mirror-like surface of the Amazon. Suddenly the water at the bow of the boat began to swirl like a whirlpool, and the mouth of a giant fish stuck out, exhaling air with a whistle. The fishermen looked in shock at the monster, twice the height of a man, covered with a scaly shell. And the giant splashed his blood-red tail - and disappeared into the depths...
If a Russian fisherman told such a thing, he would immediately be laughed at. Who is not familiar with fishing tales: either a giant fish falls off a hook, or the local Nessie appears in your dreams. But in the Amazon, meeting a giant is a reality.
Arapaima is one of the largest freshwater fish. There were specimens 4.5 m long! Nowadays you don't see such people. Since 1978, the record of the Rio Negro River (Brazil) has been held, where an arapaima was caught with data of 2.48 m - 147 kg (the price of a kilogram of tender and tasty meat, almost without bones, far exceeds the monthly income of Amazonian fishermen. In North America it can be seen in antique stores).
This strange creature looks like a representative of the era of dinosaurs. Yes, it is true: a living fossil has not changed in 135 million years. The tropical Goliath has adapted to the swampy swamps of the Amazon basin: a bladder attached to the esophagus acts like a lung, the arapaima pokes out of the water every 10-15 minutes. She, as it were, “patrolls” the Amazon basin, captures small fish in her mouth and grinds them with the help of a bony, rough tongue (locals use it as sandpaper).
These giants live in freshwater bodies of South America, in particular in the eastern and western parts of the Amazon River basin (in the Rio Morona, Rio Pastaza and Lake Rimachi rivers). A huge number of arapaima are found in these places. There is not much of this fish in the Amazon itself, because... she prefers quiet rivers with a weak current and a lot of vegetation. A body of water with rugged banks and a large number of floating plants is an ideal place for its habitat and existence.
According to local residents, this fish can reach 4 meters in length and weigh about 200 kilograms. But arapaima is a valuable commercial fish, so now such huge specimens are practically impossible to find in nature. Nowadays, most often we come across specimens no more than 2-2.5 meters. But still giants can be found, for example, in special aquariums or nature reserves.
Previously, arapaima were caught in large quantities and no thought was given to its population. Now, when the stocks of these fish have noticeably decreased, in some countries of South America, for example in eastern Peru, there are areas of rivers and lakes that are strictly protected and fishing in these places is allowed only with a license from the Ministry of Agriculture. And even then in limited quantities.
An adult can reach 3-4 meters. The powerful body of the fish is covered with large scales, which shimmer in various shades of red. This is especially noticeable in its tail part. For this, local residents gave the fish another name - pirarucu, which translates as “red fish”. The fish themselves have different colors - from “metallic green” to bluish-black.
Her respiratory system is very unusual. The pharynx and swim bladder of the fish are covered with lung tissue, which allows the fish to breathe normal air. This adaptation has developed due to the low oxygen content in the waters of these freshwater rivers. Thanks to this, arapaima can easily survive drought.
The breathing style of this fish cannot be confused with anyone else. When they rise to the surface for a breath of fresh air, small whirlpools begin to form on the water surface, and then the fish itself appears in this place with a huge open mouth. All this action lasts literally a couple of seconds. She releases the “old” air and takes a new sip, her mouth suddenly closes and goes into the depths. Adults breathe like this every 10-15 minutes, young ones - a little more often.
These fish have special glands on their heads that secrete special mucus. But you’ll find out what it’s for a little later.
These giants feed on bottom fish, and sometimes they can snack on small animals, such as birds. For juveniles, the main dish is freshwater shrimp.
The breeding season of pirarucu occurs in November. But they begin to create pairs already in August-September. These giants are very caring parents, especially the males. Here I immediately remembered how male “sea dragons” take care of their offspring. These fish are not far behind them. The male digs a shallow hole with a diameter of about 50 centimeters near the shore. The female lays eggs in it. Then, throughout the entire period of development and maturation of the eggs, the male remains next to the clutch. He guards the eggs and swims next to the “nest,” while the females drive away the fish swimming nearby.
A week later the fry are born. The male is still next to them. Or maybe they are with him? The young stay in a dense flock near his head, and they even rise together to breathe. But how does a male manage to discipline his children like that? There is a secret. Remember, I mentioned special glands on the heads of adults. So, the mucus that is secreted by these glands contains a stable substance that attracts fry. This is what makes them stick together. But after 2.5-3 months, when the young animals grow a little, these flocks break up. The bond between parents and children weakens.
Once upon a time, the meat of these monsters was the staple food of the peoples of the Amazon. Since the late 1960s, arapaima have disappeared completely in many rivers: after all, only large fish were killed with a harpoon, but nets made it possible to catch small ones. The government has banned the sale of arapaima less than one and a half meters long, but the taste, which can only be rivaled by trout and salmon, pushes people to break the law. Breeding arapaima in artificial pools with heated water is promising: they grow as much as five times faster than carp!
However, here is the opinion of K. X. Luling:
The literature of past legions significantly exaggerates the size of the arapaima. These exaggerations began, to some extent, with the descriptions of R. Chaumbourk in the book “Fishes of British Guiana,” written after a trip to Guiana in 1836. Shom-Bourke writes that the fish can reach a length of 14 feet (ft = 0.305 meters) and weigh up to 400 pounds (pound = 0.454 kilograms). However, this information was received by the author second-hand - from the words of the local population - he personally did not have evidence to support such data. In a well-known book on the fishes of the world, McCormick expresses doubts about the reliability of these stories. After analyzing all the available and more or less reliable information, he comes to the conclusion that representatives of the arapaima species never exceed a length of 9 feet - a fairly respectable size for a freshwater fish.
From my own experience I was convinced that McCormick was right. The animals we caught in Rio Pacaya averaged 6 feet in length. The largest fish was a female, 7 feet long and weighing 300 pounds. Obviously, the illustration from old editions of Brem's book Animal Life, which depicted an Indian sitting on the back of a pirarucu, 12 to 15 feet long, should be considered an obvious fantasy.
The distribution of arapaima in certain areas of the river seems to depend more on the vegetation growing there than on the nature of the water itself. For fish, a strongly indented shore with a wide strip of coastal floating plants, which, intertwined, form floating meadows, is necessary.
For this reason alone, fast-flowing rivers like the Amazon are unsuitable for the existence of arapaima. The bottom of the Amazon always remains smooth and uniform, so there are few floating plants here; those that exist are usually tangled among bushes and hanging branches.
On Rio Pacaya we found arapaima in backwaters where, in addition to floating meadows of aquatic grasses, floating mimosas and hyacinths grew. Elsewhere these species may have been replaced by floating ferns, Victoria regia and a few others. The giant fish between the plants is invisible.
It is perhaps not surprising that arapaima prefer to breathe air rather than the oxygen of the swampy waters in which they live.
The arapaima's way of inhaling air is very characteristic. When a large fish approaches the surface, a whirlpool first forms on the water surface. Then suddenly the fish itself appears with its mouth open. She quickly releases the air, making a clicking sound, inhales fresh air and immediately plunges into the depths.
Fishermen hunting for arapaima use the whirlpool that forms on the surface of the water to determine where to throw the harpoon. They throw their heavy weapon right into the middle of the whirlpool and in most cases miss the target. But the fact is that giant fish often live in small bodies of water, 60-140 meters long, and whirlpools are constantly formed here, and therefore the likelihood of a harpoon hitting an animal increases. Adults appear on the surface every 10-15 minutes, young ones more often.
Having reached a certain size, arapaima switches to the fish table, specializing mainly in bottom-shelled fish. The stomachs of arapaima most often contain the spiny spines of the pectoral fins of these fish.
In Rio Pacaya, obviously, the living conditions for the Arapaima are the most favorable. The fish that live here reach maturity within four to five years. By this time, they are approximately six feet long and weigh between 80 and 100 pounds. It is believed (although not proven) that some, and perhaps all, adults breed twice a year.
One day I was lucky enough to observe a pair of arapaima preparing for spawning. Everything happened in the clear and still waters of the quiet bay of Rio Pacai. The behavior of arapaima during spawning and their subsequent care of the offspring is truly an amazing sight.
In all likelihood, the fish dig out the spawning hole in the soft clay bottom with its mouth. In the quiet bay where we made observations, the fish chose a spawning site located only five feet below the surface. For several days the male remained within this place, and the female almost all the time stayed 10-15 meters away from him.
The young, having hatched from the eggs, remain in the hole for about seven days. A male is always near them, either circling above the hole or perched on the side. After this, the fry rise to the surface, relentlessly following the male and keeping in a dense flock near his head. Under the supervision of the father, the entire flock rises to the surface at once to inhale the air.
At the age of seven to eight days, the fry begin to feed on plankton. Watching the fish through the still waters of our quiet bay, we did not notice that the fish raised their young “into the mouth”, that is, they would take the fish into their mouths in a moment of danger. There was also no evidence that the larvae fed on the substance secreted from the plate-shaped gills located on the heads of the parents. The local population makes a clear mistake in assuming that the young animals feed on their parents’ “milk.”
In November 1959, I was able to count 11 schools of juvenile fish in a lake of about 160 acres (an acre is about 0.4 hectares). They swam close to the shore and parallel to it. The flocks seemed to be avoiding the wind. This is probably due to the fact that the waves generated by the wind make it difficult to inhale air from the surface of the water.
We decided to see what would happen to a school of fish if it suddenly lost its parents, and we caught them. The orphaned fish, having lost contact with their parents, have obviously lost contact with each other. The close flock began to break up and eventually dispersed. After some time, we noticed that the juveniles in other flocks differed significantly from each other in size. Such a large contrast could hardly be explained by the fact that the same generation of fish developed differently. Apparently other arapaima adopted the orphans. Expanding their swimming circle after the death of their parents, the orphaned school of fish spontaneously mixed with neighboring groups.
On the head of the arapaima there are glands of a very interesting structure. On the outside, they have a whole series of small tongue-like protrusions, at the ends of which, with the help of a magnifying glass, tiny holes can be discerned. The mucus formed in the glands is released through these openings.
The secretion of these glands is not used as food, although it would seem that this is the simplest and most obvious explanation of its purpose. It performs much more important functions. Here's an example. When we pulled the male out of the water, the flock accompanying him remained for a long time in the very place from where he disappeared. And one more thing: a flock of juveniles gathers around a gauze pad, previously soaked in the male’s secretions. From both examples it follows that the male secretes a relatively stable substance, thanks to which the whole group stays together.
At the age of two and a half to three and a half months, flocks of young animals begin to disintegrate. By this time, the connection between parents and children weakens.
Residents of the village of Medio Jurua display a gutted piraruca at Lake Manaria, Carauari municipality, Amazonas state, Brazil, September 3, 2012. Pirarucu is the largest freshwater fish in South America.
While fishing, residents of the village of Medio Jurua caught a caiman in a net. Villagers go fishing for pirarucu on Lake Manaria, Carauari municipality, Amazonas state, Brazil, September 3, 2012. Pirarucu is the largest freshwater fish in South America.
Arapaima (lat. Arapaima gigas) is a freshwater fish of the suborder Osteoglossidae of the order Osteoglossiformes.
One of the largest freshwater fish, individual specimens reach 3 meters in length and weigh 200 kilograms.
These giants live in freshwater bodies of South America, in particular in the eastern and western parts of the Amazon River basin (in the Rio Morona, Rio Pastaza and Lake Rimachi rivers). Reservoirs with rugged banks and a large number of floating plants are an ideal place for its habitat and existence.
One of the most valuable commercial species in South America, it is often caught using nets and harpoons, so specimens longer than 2 meters are now rare.
Previously, arapaima were caught in large quantities and no thought was given to its population.
Now, when the stocks of these fish have noticeably decreased, in some countries of South America, for example in eastern Peru, there are areas of rivers and lakes that are strictly protected and fishing in these places is allowed only under a license from the Ministry of Agriculture, and in some areas of distribution prohibited.
The powerful body of the fish is covered with large scales, which shimmer in various shades of red. This is especially noticeable in its tail part. For this, local residents gave the fish another name - piraruku, which translates as “red fish”. The fish themselves have different colors - from “metallic green” to bluish-black.
The fish does not have significant competition for life resources due to its unique adaptation mechanism - the arapaima can breathe air due to the lung-like tissue that lines the pharynx and swim bladder.
The swim bladder of the arapaima is lined with lung tissue.
This adaptation developed due to the low oxygen content in the waters of the Amazon. Thus, arapaima can survive drought by swallowing air and burrowing into the mud and sand of swamps.
The breathing style of this fish cannot be confused with anyone else. When they rise to the surface for a breath of fresh air, small whirlpools begin to form on the water surface, and then the fish itself appears in this place with a huge open mouth. All this action lasts literally a couple of seconds. She releases the “old” air and takes a new sip, the mouth closes sharply and the fish goes into the depths. Adults breathe like this every 10-15 minutes, young ones - a little more often.
Arapaima skull and jaws
Arapaima feeds on fish and other small animals, including birds. For juveniles, the main dish is freshwater shrimp.
The breeding season of arapaima occurs in November. But they begin to create pairs already in August-September. These giants are very caring parents, especially the males. The male digs a shallow hole with a diameter of about 50 centimeters near the shore. The female lays eggs in it.
Throughout the entire period of development and maturation of the eggs, the male remains close to the clutch. He guards the eggs and swims next to the “nest,” while the females drive away the fish swimming nearby.
A week later the fry are born. The young stay in a dense flock near the male’s head, and they even rise together to breathe. These fish have glands on their heads that secrete a secretion; the smell of this secretion attracts the fry, forcing them to stay close to their parents. But after 2.5-3 months, when the young animals grow a little, these flocks break up. The bond between parents and children weakens.
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animals
Type: Chordates
Class: Ray-finned fish
Squad: Bony-tongued
Family: Bony tongue
Genus: Arapaima
View: Arapaima gigas
This unique fish has not yet been fully studied. All basic information about it is recorded from the words of tourists or travelers.
Distinctive features
- Powerful body with a multilayer structure, covered with large and dense scales. The width of each scale is approximately 4 cm. Thanks to this, it easily survives among piranhas and other predatory inhabitants.
- The elongated head, flattened at the top, seems small against the background of the massive body.
- The front part has an olive-brown color, iridescent greenish-blue. The pelvic fins have a reddish tint, and the tail has a dark red tint.
- The dorsal and ventral fins are located close to the caudal fin, thereby looking symmetrical.
- An acute reaction to a change in temperature in a reservoir. Not adapted to cool water, but can easily tolerate heat.
The predator is called differently:
- Piraruco (Brazil);
- Arapaima or arapaima (Guiana);
- Paiche (Latin America).
Habitat
Predators are found in the aquatic environment of South America, including in the eastern and western parts of the Amazon River. They prefer bodies of water with rugged banks, the presence of a variety of flora, and a calm river with a slow flow. That is why the Amazon arapaima fish is almost never found in the river itself.
Incredible sizes
Giant arapaima is a fish whose weight is 2 quintals and size is 2.5 meters. It is not uncommon to find individuals that are longer. Its huge dimensions do not meet the standards for fish living in freshwater, so the arapaima is considered a unique predator. The largest arapaima, reaching 4.5 meters and weighing 200 kg, is a record holder among all aquatic inhabitants.
Arapaima - lungfish
This means that she has both gill and pulmonary breathing. Her throat and swim bladder are enveloped by lung tissue, making it possible to use air for breathing. This is necessary to adapt to water with little oxygen.
The process of oxygen absorption is very interesting.
Before the fish surfaces for a breath of air, small circles form on the surface of the water. Opening its mouth as much as possible, it emerges from the water. Inhaling a little freshness, she instantly closes her mouth and plunges into the depths. The action lasts a few seconds. Adults need such breathing every 10 - 15 minutes, younger individuals require more.
What does this individual eat?
The young feed on everything they can grab:
- Larvae and insects;
- Small fish;
- Little snakes;
- Birds and vertebrates.
Adults are less gluttonous, but are more selective when it comes to food:
- Small and medium fish;
- Birds;
- Small animals that came to drink water.
Spawning time
The ability to reproduce in females appears only in the fifth year of life. The spawning season occurs at the end of February - beginning of March. Due to the dry climate of the Amazon, this is the best time. They start looking for a mate a month before this period. Ideal spawning conditions: sandy bottom, shallow depth, absence of stormy currents.
The female makes a deep depression at the bottom, digging it out with her strong body. Caviar is deposited in a dug hole. The female carefully guards the laid eggs, not allowing enemies closer than 15 meters. The male is also always nearby, monitoring the safety of the eggs.
During the season of frequent rainfall, the eggs rupture and the fry appear. They are under the care of their parents for 3 months. The fry feed on a substance located on the male just above the eyes. A week later, independent food production begins. They grow slowly, adding about 5 cm in size and no more than 100 grams per month.
What does this beautiful fish bite on?
Initially, arapaima were caught with a harpoon; now preference is given to nets, donka, and a float rod. A clam is used as bait; anise oil and cake are used as bait.
Life in artificial conditions
In Europe, Asia, and Latin America, fish are found in huge aquariums, man-made reservoirs, and zoos. They are not placed in the same container with other species; after all, they are predatory inhabitants. In captivity they live 10–12 years.
Trapping limits
The meat of these aquatic inhabitants is considered a delicacy - nutritious, light, with a delicate aroma. Previously, fishing for arapaima was allowed without restrictions. People did not think that this could lead to a decrease in the population. Now in many areas, trapping is strictly controlled and limited quantities are allowed to those who have a license issued by the ministry.
Arapaima fish video:
And now this is the fish...
Rocking in time with the movements of the fishermen, a small canoe floated along the mirror-like surface of the Amazon. Suddenly the water at the bow of the boat began to swirl like a whirlpool, and the mouth of a giant fish stuck out, exhaling air with a whistle. The fishermen looked in shock at the monster, twice the height of a man, covered with a scaly shell. And the giant splashed his blood-red tail and disappeared into the depths...
If a Russian fisherman told such a thing, he would immediately be laughed at. Who is not familiar with fishing tales: either a giant fish falls off a hook, or the local Nessie appears in your dreams. But in the Amazon, meeting a giant is a reality. Arapaima is one of the largest freshwater fish. There were specimens 4.5 m long! Nowadays you don't see such people. Since 1978, the record has been held in the Rio Negro River (Brazil), where an arapaima was caught with data of 2.48 m - 147 kg (the price of a kilogram of tender and tasty meat, almost without bones, far exceeds the monthly income of Amazonian fishermen. In North America it can be seen in antique stores).
This strange creature looks like a representative of the era of dinosaurs. Yes, it is true: a living fossil has not changed in 135 million years. The tropical Goliath has adapted to the swampy swamps of the Amazon basin: a bladder attached to the esophagus acts like a lung, the arapaima pokes out of the water every 10-15 minutes. She, as it were, “patrolls” the Amazon basin, captures small fish in her mouth and grinds them with the help of a bony, rough tongue (locals use it as sandpaper).
These giants live in freshwater bodies of South America, in particular in the eastern and western parts of the Amazon River basin (in the Rio Morona, Rio Pastaza and Lake Rimachi rivers). A huge number of arapaima are found in these places. There is not much of this fish in the Amazon itself, because... she prefers quiet rivers with a weak current and a lot of vegetation. A reservoir with rugged banks and a large number of floating plants is an ideal place for its habitat and existence.
According to local residents, this fish can reach 4 meters in length and weigh about 200 kilograms. But arapaima is a valuable commercial fish, so now such huge specimens are practically impossible to find in nature. Nowadays, most often we come across specimens no more than 2-2.5 meters. But still giants can be found, for example, in special aquariums or nature reserves.
Previously, arapaima were caught in large quantities and no thought was given to its population. Now, when the stocks of these fish have noticeably decreased, in some countries of South America, for example in eastern Peru, there are areas of rivers and lakes that are strictly protected and fishing in these places is allowed only with a license from the Ministry of Agriculture. And even then in limited quantities.
An adult can reach 3-4 meters. The powerful body of the fish is covered with large scales, which shimmer in various shades of red. This is especially noticeable in its tail part. For this, local residents gave the fish another name - piraruku, which translates as “red fish”. The fish themselves have different colors - from “metallic green” to bluish-black.
Her respiratory system is very unusual. The pharynx and swim bladder of the fish are covered with lung tissue, which allows the fish to breathe normal air. This adaptation has developed due to the low oxygen content in the waters of these freshwater rivers. Thanks to this, arapaima can easily survive drought.
The breathing style of this fish cannot be confused with anyone else. When they rise to the surface for a breath of fresh air, small whirlpools begin to form on the water surface, and then the fish itself appears in this place with a huge open mouth. All this action lasts literally a couple of seconds. She releases the “old” air and takes a new sip, the mouth closes sharply and the fish goes into the depths. Adults breathe like this every 10-15 minutes, young ones - a little more often.
These fish have special glands on their heads that secrete special mucus. But you’ll find out what it’s for a little later.
These giants feed on bottom fish, and sometimes they can snack on small animals, such as birds. For juveniles, the main dish is freshwater shrimp.
The breeding season of pirarucu occurs in November. But they begin to create pairs already in August-September. These giants are very caring parents, especially the males. Here I immediately remembered how male “sea dragons” take care of their offspring. These fish are not far behind them. The male digs a shallow hole with a diameter of about 50 centimeters near the shore. The female lays eggs in it. Then, throughout the entire period of development and maturation of the eggs, the male remains next to the clutch. He guards the eggs and swims next to the “nest,” while the females drive away the fish swimming nearby.
A week later the fry are born. The male is still next to them. Or maybe they are with him? The young stay in a dense flock near his head, and they even rise together to breathe. But how does a male manage to discipline his children like that? There is a secret. Remember, I mentioned special glands on the heads of adults. So, the mucus that is secreted by these glands contains a stable substance that attracts fry. This is what makes them stick together. But after 2.5-3 months, when the young animals grow a little, these flocks break up. The bond between parents and children weakens.
Once upon a time, the meat of these monsters was the main food product of the peoples of the Amazon. Since the late 1960s, arapaima have disappeared completely in many rivers: after all, only large fish were killed with a harpoon, but nets made it possible to catch small ones. The government has banned the sale of arapaima less than one and a half meters long, but the taste, which can only be rivaled by trout and salmon, pushes people to break the law. Breeding arapaima in artificial pools with heated water is promising: they grow as much as five times faster than carp!
