Did you know that birds are the closest modern relatives to the dinosaurs?
Maybe that’ll make you think twice before agitating a goose!
Life’s manifested in so many different ways over millions and millions of years. Some species have been around for literal eons.
The arapaima has existed for over 23 million years!
Yes, million.
Not only is it one of the oldest living organisms on the planet but it’s also among the largest freshwater fish in existence.
These ancient fish are like living fossils.
For all the Pokemon fans out there, the arapaima is the Aerodactyl of the real world.
The archaic species has even been labeled the “the dinosaur fish.”
It didn’t exactly coexist with the dinosaurs, but it’s been around for so long!
The Arapaima gigas was known as the only species of the ancient freshwater fish until 2013, but numerous related species have been discovered since.
The largest recorded arapaima weighed about 440 pounds and was over 15 feet long. The fish generally grows to 200 pounds and 10 feet!
But where are they from?
The arapaima is native to the ferocious waters of the Amazon River, spanning the countries of Peru, Brazil, Guyana, and Colombia, among others.
The scaled, freshwater fish is featured heavily in the diets of the local communities of the river basin.
Up until the arrival of humans into the region, the fish lied at the top of the food chain for centuries.
The enormous fish is known to breed between February and March, right in the dry season. They lay thousands of eggs in the sand, which hatch right before the onset of the wet season.
Evidence suggests that male mouths can also serve as incubation mechanisms.
The fish have even been known to eclipse 20 years of age.
The arapaima breathes air, forcing it to the surface for necessary oxygen every 20 or so minutes. Most fish obviously have gills, which filters oxygen from water. The arapaima, conversely, has a tiny set of gills and a functioning lung in its mouth to breathe in air.
Although incredibly unique, this leaves them vulnerable to land predators, most notably humans.
Their air-breathing capabilities enable them to survive out of water for about 24 hours.
Researchers have been working with locals, like Rewa village in Guyana, to protect the arapaima. They’ve already been wiped out in areas of the Amazon due to overfishing.
Sharp drops in population have led to increased conservation efforts in recent years.
Due to their unique characteristics, they’ve also become a popular research subject.
Conservation biologist Lesley de Souza has been working with Rewa village to conserve the fascinating fish.
“For many years they overfished arapaima for income. They began seeing fewer and fewer arapaima and realized they were threatening their natural resources. After a pledge to no longer harvest arapaima, they currently contain the highest density of arapaima in Guyana.”
De Souza indicates that the combination of external conservation attempts in tandem with local community involvement has been effective in protecting the arapaima and the local watershed. But there is more work to be done.
“Working closely with Indigenous communities I have heard many anecdotal accounts of undocumented arapaima behavior. This is certainly a gap we need to fill in arapaima research.”
What do you think of the arapaima? They kind of look like giant, ancient barracuda… but a little less menacing.
Check out some fascinating arapaima research, including an interview with Lesley de Souza in the video below! These ancient, air-breathing fish are truly fascinating.
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