Classification / Names Common names | Synonyms | Catalog of Fishes(genus, species) | ITIS | CoL | WoRMS | Cloffa

Teleostei (teleosts) > Osteoglossiformes (Bony tongues) > Arapaimidae (Bonytongues)
Etymology: Arapaima: From tupí-guaraní, arapaima (Ref. 45335).

Environment: milieu / climate zone / depth range / distribution range Ecology

Freshwater; demersal; pH range: 6.0 - 6.5; dH range: 10 - ?. Tropical; 25°C - 29°C (Ref. 2060); 5°N - 11°S

Distribution Countries | FAO areas | Ecosystems | Occurrences | Point map | Introductions | Faunafri

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).

Length at first maturity / Size / Weight / Age

Maturity: L_m 149.5, range 145 - 154 cm
Max length : 450 cm TL male/unsexed; (Ref. 6398); common length : 200 cm TL male/unsexed; (Ref. 557); max. published weight: 200.0 kg (Ref. 557)

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).

Life cycle and mating behavior Maturity | Reproduction | Spawning | Eggs | Fecundity | Larvae

Main reference Upload your references | References | Coordinator | Collaborators

Ferraris, C.J. Jr., 2003. Arapaimatidae (Bonytongues). p. 31. In R.E. Reis, S.O. Kullander and C.J. Ferraris, Jr. (eds.) Checklist of the Freshwater Fishes of South and Central America. Porto Alegre: EDIPUCRS, Brasil. (Ref. 50891)

IUCN Red List Status (Ref. 126983)

Data deficient (DD) ; Date assessed: 01 August 1996

CITES

Appendix II: International trade monitored

CMS (Ref. 116361)

Not Evaluated

Threat to humans

Harmless

Human uses

Fisheries: commercial; aquaculture: commercial; gamefish: yes; aquarium: public aquariums

FAO - Aquaculture: production; Fisheries: landings; Publication: search | FishSource |

More information

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Common names
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Fecundity
Eggs
Egg development

Age/Size
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Length-weight
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Morphometrics
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Larvae
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References
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Internet sources

Estimates based on models

Phylogenetic diversity index (Ref. 82804): PD₅₀ = 0.5938 [Uniqueness, from 0.5 = low to 2.0 = high].

Trophic level (Ref. 69278): 4.5 ±0.0 se; based on diet studies.

Generation time: 11.1 ( na - na) years. Estimated as median ln(3)/K based on 2 growth studies.

Resilience (Ref. 120179): Low, minimum population doubling time 4.5 - 14 years (tm=4-6; Fec=47,000).

Fishing Vulnerability (Ref. 59153): Moderate to high vulnerability (54 of 100).

Price category (Ref. 80766): Unknown.

Nutrients (Ref. 124155): Calcium = 29.9 [16.6, 81.3] mg/100g; Iron = 1.02 [0.53, 2.23] mg/100g; Protein = 16 [14, 18] %; Omega3 = 0.387 [0.140, 1.140] g/100g; Selenium = 140 [45, 346] μg/100g; VitaminA = 15.6 [3.9, 64.9] μg/100g; Zinc = 0.648 [0.415, 1.065] mg/100g (wet weight); based on nutrient studies.

Arapaima gigas (Schinz, 1822)