Jaw-dropping giant freshwater fish: Arapaima.
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The Arapaima of South America is the largest freshwater fish in the world. This massive fish can weight up to 400 pounds and measure 14 feet from snout to tail. Unfortunately, it’s size also makes it the most sought after food fish in its range. It is also captured and exported as pets. Arapaimas of more than 2 meters are seldom seen in the wild now.
The fish is already the focus of a conservation effort but is not placed on the endangered species list, yet.
Photo by National Geographic.
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November 7th, 2008 at 11:19 am
You can seemingly always spot a South American fish… they look so primitive yet elegant.
GumbyTheCats last blog post..The Fall Of The GOP
November 8th, 2008 at 4:39 am
“Jaw dropping” is probably an understatement. That fish is a colossus and thanks for sharing it. There are so many wonderful creations in nature it makes one feel closer to God!
Marks last blog post..Vimy Ridge Battlefield Tour.
November 8th, 2008 at 9:18 pm
Big fish…:)
November 9th, 2008 at 12:39 am
i’ve seen one before .. in an aquarium though .. *sigh*
but it’s truly glorious, my little baby got a bit scared because it was soo much bigger than she was .. *giggles*
Liannes last blog post..gelic.ni.karma
November 9th, 2008 at 5:10 pm
Weird looking fish, but not as strange as the other fish in T-shirt and shorts in the background.
Mark Hs last blog post..Visiting the Smallest Town in the World (Hum, Croatia)
November 9th, 2008 at 6:06 pm
Wouldn’t you just love to be swimming and one of these bugers brushed up between your legs?!?!
November 9th, 2008 at 6:19 pm
wow! that’s a big one. i love fishing and even a big northern would still frighten me. i can’t imagine what my reaction would be if I caught this 14 feet fish which is more than 2x my height. Help!
simplyjacys last blog post..Jack O’ Lanterns and Trick or Treating
November 10th, 2008 at 10:14 pm
Hi all!
@ Gumby
It does bear a resemblance to Arowana, a popular aquarium fish.
@ Mark
If we ever came close to one in the wilds, the only thing we’ll probably feel closer to is a heart attack.
@ Marrisa
“Big fish” is probaly more of an understatement than “jaw-dropping.” It’s also eloquent.
@ Lianne
It’s probably an Arowana you saw? The Arapima is big brother to it, same family.The Arowana can grow big too, 3 to 4 feet in aquariums, much larger in the wild.
@ Mark
Yeah. Sadly, the species of that stranger-looking fish is sending the strange-looking fish into the endangered species list.
@ Electric
We imagine a bucking bronco followed by a heart attack.
@ Simply
Northern pike? You might want to check out the Taimen, a relative of the trout and salmon.
December 14th, 2008 at 8:23 am
it looks somewhat like a aligatorgar. i’m like some of the folks above, don’t want to swim with it.
December 16th, 2008 at 5:33 am
They’re both primitive fishes. Must’ve shared somegenes somewhere.
I’ll only go near a fish that big if it’s on a steak plate. 
December 31st, 2008 at 12:11 pm
That is a huge fresh water fish, and the Arowana is a great aqurium fish.
January 1st, 2009 at 2:21 am
I’ll bet there’s no commercially available aquariums for arapiama’s.