OSTEICHTHYES: ORDER: OSTEOGLOSSIDAE: Arapaima

Arapaima gigas (Cuvier)

Arapaima

Photos & text by Dr. Robert Sprackland.

Range: The Amazon River and many of its tributaries. They are often encountered in deceptively shallow streams.

Diagnosis: A potentially huge fish, growing to 5 m/16 feet in length.

Description:  

Natural History:

Reproduction:

Taxonomy & Relationships: Arapaimas are related to other "bony-tongued" fishes, such as arowanas and barramundis.

Variation:

Additional Comments:

Type Specimen:

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