The arapaima, pirarucu, or paiche is any large species of bonytongue in the genus Arapaima native to the Amazon and Essequibo basins of South America. Arapaima is the type genus of the subfamily Arapaiminae within the family Osteoglossidae .

Native Range: The Arapaima is native to the Amazon River system of Brazil, southern Colombia, Amazonian Ecuador, and northeastern Peru; the Rio Tocantins basin in central Brazil; and the Essequibo River of Guyana (Ferraris 2003; Castello and Stewart 2010; Miranda-Chumacero et al. 2012; Hill, J.E. and Lawson, K.M., 2015). Castello and Stewart ...

“Arapaima, also known as Pirarucu, are large Neotropical fish with robust cylindrical bodies that become laterally compressed towards their posterior end (tail). Their heads are heavily sculptured with bony plates, and taper to a prominent lower jaw that protrudes upward.

Arapaima grow rapidly and can reach 3 feet and 20 pounds in their first year and five feet and 90 pounds by their fourth year. Arapaima are sensitive to cold water temperatures and die if it drops below 61 o F. This would limit their potential Florida range to the southeast region of the state.

Castello and Stewart (2010) present a map summarizing “best available information on geographic distribution of Arapaima genus,” reporting the species from the Amazon River basin (Brazil, far southern Colombia, eastern Ecuador, northeastern Peru), the Essequibo River basin in Guyana, and the Tocantins River basin in Brazil.

Etymology: Arapaima: From tupí-guaraní, arapaima (Ref. 45335). Freshwater; demersal; 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.

Range: South America Habitat: Rivers Size: Up to 10 feet (3m) long; Up to 400 pounds (181kg) Diet: Fish, crustaceans, fruits, seeds, and small animals Threats: Humans and caimans Life span: Up to twenty years. Today on Animal Fact Files we’re discussing the arapaima.

Arapaima is the type genus of the subfamily Arapaiminae within the family Osteoglossidae. They are among the world's largest freshwater fish, reaching as much as 3 m (9.8 ft) in length. They are an important food fish. They have declined in the native range due to overfishing and habitat loss.

Arapaima gigas, also known simply as Arapaima, pirarucu, or paiche, [3] [4] [5] is a species of arapaima native to the basin of the Amazon River. Once believed to be the sole species in the genus, it is among the largest freshwater fish.

Geographic Range. Arapaima gigas exclusively inhabits the Amazon River Basin of South America. (Goulding et al., 1993) Biogeographic Regions; neotropical. native; Habitat