Arapaima
Arapaima are one of the largest freshwater fish species in the world, growing up to 10 feet long and weighing up to 440 pounds, though average length is about 7 feet. Native to the Amazon River Basin in South America, the ancient arapaima can be found in slow-moving rivers or floodplain lakes in Brazil, Peru and Guyana.
From Fish to Fruit: Amazon's Voracious Eaters
Arapaima mainly eat fish, but they are also known to eat fruit, seeds, insects, birds and even small mammals — really anything sitting for just too long on the water’s surface. In an incredibly quick motion, arapaima open their large mouths and “gulp” down unsuspecting prey, creating a vacuum that sucks in nearby food with a large “clapping” noise. Then, arapaima use their bony tongues to crush their food on the roof of their mouths.
A Fish that Breathes Air?
Arapaima first appeared in fossil records 23 million years ago. The four species have gone through little evolutionary change when compared to fossil evidence of its extinct ancestors, making them what’s called a “living fossil.” Over millennia, arapaima have developed the ability to breathe air using a modified swim bladder that acts as a lung. This allows them to survive in oxygen-deficient, murky waters during seasonal flooding in the Amazon. At Shedd, look for the arapaima (Arapaima gigas) coming to the surface every 5 to 15 minutes to take a breath.
Inspired by River Giants
Arapaima are an exceptional example of how an animal has adapted and thrived in a complex environment. Unfortunately, arapaima are a threatened species due to overfishing in their native range. Coming eye to eye with these remarkable river giants at the aquarium sparks deeper connections to Amazon ecosystems and the wildlife that depends on them.