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Animal profile

Arapaima

Arapaima gigas

ActinopterygiiFloodplain lakes, oxbows and slow river channels of the Amazon basinData Deficient

Field profile

The arapaima is one of the largest freshwater fishes, an armoured bony-tongued giant of Amazonian floodplains. It gulps air at the surface using a lung-like swim bladder and guards its young. Lengths of two to three metres are reported for large adults.

Scope note

This is an editorial profile, not a diagnostic field-identification guide or a substitute for current conservation assessments. Follow the cited sources on each fact for the evidence trail.

Published field notes

2026-06-25

Arapaima

Arapaima scales defeat piranha teeth

The arapaima shares its water with piranhas and wears armour to match. Its scales are layered composites with a hard mineralised outer surface over tough, twisted collagen, and mechanical tests show piranha teeth fracture before the scale does.

Read with evidence →

Arapaima | Daily Animal Facts