Arapaima gigas, also known as pirarucu, is a species of arapaima native to the basin of the Amazon River. Once believed to be the sole species in the
Arapaima gigas, also known as pirarucu, 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. The species is an obligate air-breather and needs to come to the surface regularly to gulp air. Arapaima gigas swimming in captivity. The species is among the largest known freshwater fish, commonly A. gigas has a streamlined body with dorsal and anal fins set well back towards the tail. While the body is mainly gray to gray-green, its Brazilian local name pirarucu derives from an indigenous word for red fish, thought to refer to either the red flecks on the scales towards the tail, or the reddish-orange color of its fish have flexible armor-like scales made up of a hard mineralized outer layer and a tough-but-flexible inner layer that help protect it from attacks
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Photo credit: © Vladimir Razguliaev / Alamy / Afripics
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