Environment: milieu / climate zone / depth range / distribution range
Ecologia
; acqua dolce demersale; pH range: 6.0 - 6.5; dH range: 10 - ?. Tropical; 25°C - 29°C (Ref. 2060); 5°N - 11°S
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 / Peso / Age
Maturity: Lm 149.5, range 145 - 154 cm
Max length : 450 cm TL maschio/sesso non determinato; (Ref. 6398); common length : 200 cm TL maschio/sesso non determinato; (Ref. 557); peso massimo pubblicato: 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).
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. 130435)
Threat to humans
Harmless
Human uses
Pesca: commerciale; Acquacoltura: commerciale; Pesce da pesca sportiva: si; Acquario: Acquari pubblici
Strumenti
Special reports
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Estimates based on models
Phylogenetic diversity index (Ref.
82804): PD
50 = 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.
Resilienza (Ref.
120179): Basso, tempo minimo di raddoppiamento della popolazione 4.5 - 14 anni (tm=4-6; Fec=47,000).
Fishing Vulnerability (Ref.
59153): Moderate to high vulnerability (54 of 100).
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.