Pirarucu
The pirarucu, also known as the arapaima, or paiche (Arapaima gigas), is a South American tropical freshwater fish. It is one of the largest freshwater fish in the world, reportedly with a maximum length up to 14 3/4 feet and a weight up to 440 pounds.
The pirarucu is the largest freshwater fish in South America. One of the most sought after food fish species in South America, they are often captured by handheld nets for export, and by spear fishing for local consumption.
Due the excessive hunting a pirarucu of more than six and a half feet is seldom found in the wild today.
The diet of the pirarucu consists of fish and other small animals, including birds.
The pirarucu is an air-breather, using its swim bladder, which is rich in blood vessels and opens into the fish's mouth, giving the pirarucu an advantage in oxygen-deprived water that is often found in the Amazon River.
This fish is therefore able to survive extensive drought periods by gulping air and burrowing in the mud or sand of the swamps.
The pirarucu has been introduced for fishing in Thailand and Malaysia.
Also considered an aquarium fish by some, it obviously requires a large tank and ample resources.
Fossils of pirarucu or a very similar species have been found in the Miocene Villavieja Formation of Colombia.
The tongue of the pirarucu is thought to have medicinal qualities in South America.
It is dried and combined with guarana bark, which is grated and mixed into water. Doses of this are given to kill intestinal worms.
More in the next edition.
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