What is unique about the pirarucu fish?
What is unique about the pirarucu fish?
The pirarucu is one of the largest freshwater fish in the world. It can grow up to 3 metres long, weigh more than 200kg and live between 15-20 years. The biology of the pirarucu is unique amongst fishes in that it can breathe air and needs to surface every five to 15 minutes to do so.
How much is a pirarucu fish worth?
Some of the larger pirarucu fetch more than $200 each when sold whole in the street markets in Amazonian outposts, bolstering the income of families subsisting on the fish they catch and the manioc they grow on small plots of land.
Are arapaima and pirarucu the same?
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. Its Portuguese name, pirarucu, derives from the Tupi language words pira and urucum, meaning “red fish”. …
What does the pirarucu eat?
Arapaimas survive mainly on fish, but they’re also known to eat fruits, seeds, and insects. Fierce predators, they can also use short bursts of speed to leap out of the water to grab birds, lizards, and even small primates from low-hanging trees.
Why are pirarucu so valuable?
Pirarucu (Arapaima gigas). This fish is also an important protein source in the diet of people living along the river, but large pirarucu have become less common in some areas, owing to overfishing. The pirarucu’s air bladder allows the fish to breathe air. Only very young pirarucu have functional gills.
What is the most prized fish in the world?
A bluefin tuna has been sold for three quarters of a million dollars in Tokyo – a price almost double last year’s record sale.
Are pirarucu fish endangered?
Data deficient (Data inadequate to determine a threat category)
Arapaima gigas/Conservation status
What is the most expensive freshwater fish?
Top 10 Most Expensive Fish For Aquarium In The World
| Fish | Color | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Platinum Arowana | White | $400,000 |
| Freshwater Polka Dot Stingray | Black/Brown and White | $100,000 |
| Peppermint Angelfish | Red and White | $30,000 |
| Masked Angelfish | Black and White | $20,000 |