5 Facts About the Arapaima / Pirarucu

The arapaima, pirarucu, or paiche (Arapaima) is a genus of bonytongue native to the Amazon and Essequibo basins in South America. They are the largest freshwater fish of South America, and among the largest freshwater fish in the world. Here I address the top 5 facts you may not have known about this freshwater giant.

Don't forget to subscribe to this channel for more great science videos!

Our GEAR ------------
(By buying through these links you help us support the channel)

On Social --------------

Here are more links to our work:

[MedicJigglypuff]

That's 10, 000 bells right there!

[weadtly]

Animal crossing has lead me to great discoveries

[celtgunn]

Arapaima also can leap quite far out of the water. Jeremy Wade from River Monsters caught an Arapaima leap center chest. Bugger jabbed him so hard it took a long time to heal. Love River Monsters the show.

[azmudd]

They're an invasive species here in Malaysia. You can find them at Kenyir Lake.

[tamicamarcano]

I'm giving my Arapaima fish to Blathers right now! Also, I love nerdy facts!

[chahayaparahitta]

Fun fact: i'm scared of fish and arapaima is my biggest fear. My mom is forcing me to watch arapaima videos, now i'm crying while watching this

[silvertheelf]

I love this fish, it’s just like a look into the past, arapaima is straight out of the Miocene.

[BlazingMichael]

one other cool thing about these fish is that their scales are extremely tough, and they sit on an under layer of collagen which is very "rubbery" and so allows the scales to be flexible, meaning they're way less likely to be torn off by an attacking predator (except giant otters because they're basically the water-Honeybadgers of the Amazon basin.)

[palmtree]

I’ve caught SO many of these… donated one to the local museum actually.

[marykayeesquibel]

I have ALWAYS LOVED THIS FISH!! Since I was 8 yrs old and did a diarama of Brazil !

[Draceb]

It's 2021 and the arapaima is considered an invasive species in Florida so they're surviving now they caught one that was 10 ft long here near Okeechobee and they're concerned they're going to take over the water here

[konstapelwalander]

Went there last tuesday with ny institution from Chalmers University and we were discussing the Arapaima! Such a small world!!

[brianborden]

I'm much more interested in the situation with Arapaima invading parts where red-belly piranhas dwell. It's been said that they have, OR have developed a taste for piranhas, and this has caused all species of red belly to become extremely aggressive. Any thoughts?

[MB]

I think the reason they can get that big is because they breathe air.
if you breathe water, not much oxygen is available, & less growth happens.

[BenLeedsCarson]

You go through the trouble of telling us that you've researched how it maybe isn't the largest freshwater fish, but don't tell us what's larger?

[elijahwellington]

I just got some pirarucu boots today they’re amazing

[OG]

Ummm I'm only looking at this video because I own a pair of pirarucu boots

[ourfamilybungalow]

Arapaima officially somehow migrated to Florida and are predicted to be invasive over the next year.

[jimmypierce]

Save them. They have been here before us 🙏🌏💜🌏🙏

[rizkyramadhansoundwave]

May ask you some question ???
What's the difference between Arapaima Male & Female ???