What is a feared fish of the Amazon River?

Piranhas range from northern Argentina to Colombia, but they are most diverse in the Amazon River, where 20 different species are found. The most infamous is the red-bellied piranha (Pygocentrus nattereri), with the strongest jaws and sharpest teeth of all.

Is there a monster in the Amazon River?

The Amazon has a huge amount of river monsters. Anacondas, caimans, piranhas and jaguars all call this place home. Years ago, Jeremy Wade travelled here looking for the arapaima, a 10-foot long fish that has been known to ram predators with the force of a car crash.

Can arapaima eat humans?

On top of that, they do not usually see humans as prey, but, rather, attack when they feel their offspring or themselves are threatened. Therefore, they could not possibly be responsible for killing hundreds of people struggling in the water.

What is the #1 river monster in the Amazon River?

Arapaima
1. The Arapaima (Arapaima gigas) It’s highly unlikely that you will catch one of these beasts, but nevertheless, the Arapaima, also known as the pirarucu or paiche, is a huge carnivorous fish that can be found in the Amazon River and its surrounding lakes.

What is a meat eating fish in the Amazon River?

Piranha. Speaking of piranhas, these little fish are arguably the most famous fish of the Amazon River, simply because of their reputation as aggressive meat-eaters.

What is the biggest fish in the Amazon River?

pirarucu
Its white flesh is tender and tasty, it can measure up to three meters long and weigh more than 200 kilograms: meet the pirarucu, one of the world’s largest freshwater fish, and native to the Amazon.

Are there crocodiles in the Amazon river?

Strictly speaking, there are no rainforest crocodiles in the Amazon Rainforest aside from the odd American or Orinoco crocodile that may from time to time end up in the northern reaches. Generally speaking, the Amazon Rainforest crocodiles are actually caiman in the alligator family.

What animal eats arapaima?

Because of their tough layer of scales, adults have few natural predators. Rainforest caiman is the only creature known to prey on them. Baby arapaima, called fry, are often preyed upon by other species of fish, particularly various species of cichlid. Humans are by far the largest threat to these fish.

Where do arapaima live in the Amazon?

Conservation Status. The arapaima is found in Brazil, Peru and Guyana. They live in the slow-moving and typically oxygen-deficient rivers of the Amazon River basin floodplain.

What is the Arapaima gigas and where is it found?

WHAT IS THE ARAPAIMA GIGAS? The Arapaima gigas is a species of fish found in the Amazon River basin in Brazil. They are the largest freshwater fish in South America and can grow to around 6ft 7in, although many peak at around 6ft long. The fish has large black and green scales with red markings.

What animals eat arapaima?

Rainforest caiman is the only creature known to prey on them. Baby arapaima, called fry, are often preyed upon by other species of fish, particularly various species of cichlid. Humans are by far the largest threat to these fish.

Why is the arapaima fish protected?

Despite this fact, large arapaima is protected by restrictions on harvesting and exporting. This is because large arapaima has been harder to find in the wild, likely due to overfishing and habitat loss. These fish mostly eats other species of fish found in the slow-moving waters they call home.