The Giant Fish That Makes Milk
Real Science・13 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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Summary
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Arapaima: Amazon's Unique and Resilient Fish
- The Amazon River is home to unique wildlife, including the arapaima, the largest freshwater fish globally, growing up to 3 meters long and weighing 200 kilograms.
- Arapaima exhibit unusual adaptations, such as bony tongues and ceramic scales, making them highly resilient survivors.
- Arapaima exhibit a peculiar behavior of feeding their young with a milk-like substance, which scientists have discovered to be a mix of hormones and chemicals aiding in offspring survival.
- Arapaima have evolved to breathe air, with a modified swim bladder functioning like lungs, allowing them to survive out of water for up to 24 hours.
- Arapaima's swim bladder is unique, with a large size and increased surface area for oxygen absorption, similar to gills, enabling them to thrive in low-oxygen environments.
- Arapaima are skilled predators, using suction to trap prey like fish, crabs, and even birds and small mammals, with their bony tongues and sharp teeth.
- Arapaima's tough scales, making up 10% of their body weight, provide protection from predators like piranhas and are used for durable leather products.
- Arapaima exhibit parental care, with both male and female fish producing a milk-like substance for their offspring, aiding in growth and survival.
- Conservation efforts, including catch limits and fishing bans, have successfully increased arapaima populations in certain areas, emphasizing the need to protect their habitats.
- Protecting arapaima not only safeguards this unique species but also contributes to the conservation of the Amazon rainforest ecosystem, highlighting the interconnectedness of wildlife preservation and habitat protection.
