The tale of Amazon River and its monster fish
The Amazon River is home to many animals, including approximately 400 reptile species and large animals such as anacondas, crocodiles, jaguars, among others. Additionally, there are more than 3,000 kinds of freshwater fish which often get overlooked, thanks to the giant creatures. But did you know that the Amazon River is known to house some of the world’s largest fish? That’s why it’s a popular destination for fishermen worldwide to catch some of the biggest fish. Since many of these fish are also carnivorous, they present a unique challenge to seasoned fishermen. Here’s a sneak peek into three giant fish from the Amazon River!
Arapaima: It weighs more than 200 kgs!
As one of the world's largest freshwater fish found in the river waters, the arapaima is typically the first fish that comes to mind when thinking of the Amazon River's monsters. It is also called the pirarucu or paiche.
The pirarucu grows to almost three meters in length and weighs up to 220 kilograms. This fish has tough, protective scales that shield it from predators.
Arapaima has a unique profile: The front of the body is long and narrow, and the back is flat with only a simple, rounded tail. The fish can breathe air thanks, to it air bladder. The gills are only functional in extremely young fish.
Unfortunately, research has shown that the population of arapiama has declined by more than 93% due to overfishing. As these lovely animals must frequently surface to breathe, hunters spot and catch them easily because of their giant size.
Tambaqui: The fish that resembles a piranha
The tambaqui is another large fish indigenous to the Amazon River. It is a popular edible fish that gets much of its weight from its high fat content. In terms of weight, it can reach approximately 45 kilograms and is relatively easy to catch.
In the initial phase, the tambaqui resemble a piranha, but they develop a much rounder skull as they become bigger. They are typically green in colour with a grey belly. The tambaqui fish use their strong molar teeth to devour their diet, mostly consisting of fruits, seeds, and nuts. They flourish in freshwaters but frequently migrate towards flooded rainforests for food. They can also endure in waters with little oxygen. According to a research published in the journal Revista Brasileira de Zoologia, this fish is an important part of the Amazonian diet. Locally, they are also called pacu.
Since the late 1960s, large tambaqui have been widely exploited as they are the most expensive fish in the Central Amazon region. They have been overfished in both the Central and Lower Amazon regions, with young fish now making up most of the catch. Some laws do exist to protect the tambaqui from being overfished. But fishermen have not obeyed them, nor can officials police them in such a wide expanse.
Piraíba: One of the largest catfish in the world
The piraíba is one of the largest catfish in the world and is undoubtedly one of the largest river monsters of the Amazon River. This monster fish can reach a height of around three metres and weigh nearly 150 kilograms. The baby piraíba is known as 'filhote' among the Amazonian villagers, before they reach the weight of 91 kgs. Wondering what ‘filhote’ means? Well, it means puppy. Their undersides are white, while the backs are dark grey to black. They have enormous, shark-like dorsal fins and brilliant white bellies. Some have even compared the piraíba to sharks because of their fins.
The piraíba sense prey by tasting chemicals in the water, thanks to their body's numerous taste buds. They 'taste' their prey before determining whether or not to eat it. The piraíba sure are fussy eaters!
The vast majority of what they eat consists of other fish. Yet, some have been known to consume even monkeys if they go too close to the water. When caught, various animals like dogs, cats, and even other catfish have been discovered inside them. There has even been a story about a fisherman being devoured whole by the catfish. Apparently, people only realised what happened when they saw his legs protruding from its enormous mouth as it surfaced after suffocation!
Nature has birthed creatures of all kinds. These river monsters are both amazing and slightly scary!