The Giant Fish That Makes Milk
Real Science・2 minutes read
The Amazon River is home to the arapaima, a resilient species with unique adaptations like breathing air and feeding their young with a milk-like substance, aiding in their survival. Conservation efforts have helped increase arapaima populations, emphasizing the importance of protecting their habitats for both the species and the Amazon rainforest ecosystem.
Insights
- Arapaima in the Amazon River have evolved unique adaptations like breathing air with swim bladders acting as lungs, enabling them to survive out of water for extended periods and thrive in low-oxygen environments.
- Conservation initiatives, such as catch limits and fishing bans, have proven effective in boosting arapaima populations, underscoring the importance of protecting their habitats not only for the species' survival but also to preserve the Amazon rainforest ecosystem as a whole.
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Recent questions
What is the arapaima?
A large freshwater fish in the Amazon River.
How do arapaima breathe?
Through a modified swim bladder functioning like lungs.
What do arapaima eat?
Fish, crabs, birds, and small mammals.
How do arapaima protect themselves?
With tough scales and parental care.
Why are conservation efforts important for arapaima?
To safeguard the species and Amazon ecosystem.
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