Arapaima: One of the World's Ten Most Ferocious Freshwater Fish - Why Has It Survived?

Today the Tuliu.com editor is bringing you the arapaima——a fish on the brink of extinction, with enormous economic value, and one of the world's ten most ferocious freshwater fish. So what kind of fish is the arapaima? Why has it survived? Let's take a look below~

I. What kind of fish is the arapaima

The arapaima is one of the larger freshwater fish, with hard bony teeth on its tongue, which is why it is called the bony-tongue fish, and it is also known as the walrus fish. It is a fish that has survived from ancient times to the present; experts speculate that this fish may have appeared 100 million years ago. Today the wild ones are mainly distributed in the Amazon River basin. The flesh of this fish is very delicious and has few bones, so it is intensively caught by people, and the total number of live wild fish may now be less than 100,000.

II. Why the arapaima has survived

1. Its living environment is rarely visited by people

The arapaima lives entirely in primeval deep forests. It usually preys on small fish, but sometimes it also preys on turtles, frogs, snakes and the like, and even small crocodiles cannot escape its taste buds. But when the weather is scorching hot, the river flows very slowly, causing the oxygen content of the water to drop greatly. At this time you can often see the arapaima floating up to the water's surface, relying on breathing air to maintain its vitality.

2. Great strength

When the dry season arrives in the tropical rainforest, it can burrow into the mud and sand of the riverbed to protect itself. Wild arapaimas are all very strong, and their tail is their weapon; it can easily knock down an adult man, and can even shatter bones, causing internal injuries.

3. Fast reproduction

Arapaimas usually lay their eggs in relatively shallow waters. In August, when the river water level is lower, they gather in river channels and lakes. The breeding period lasts from December to March of the following year. Each female fish can, in several batches each year, lay a total of 160,000 eggs. The eggs hatch into young fish after four days, at which point the female fish leaves on her own, while the male fish stays to protect these small fish. The male fish's tail also gradually turns red at this time.

4. Long lifespan

After birth, the small fish gather around the male fish's head. After following the male fish for three months, with the arrival of the rainy season, these young fish separate from the male fish. They begin to reproduce at five or six years of age. Generally this fish has a lifespan of more than 20 years.

Alright, the above is the Tuliu.com editor's explanation of why the arapaima has survived. So see you next time.