Arapaima vs Greater Amberjack

Arapaima gigas verglichen mit Seriola dumerili

Taxonomy & Classification

Eigenschaft	Arapaima	Greater Amberjack
Wissenschaftlicher Name	Arapaima gigas	Seriola dumerili
Ordnung	Osteoglossiformes	Carangiformes
Familie	Arapaimidae	Carangidae
Conservation Status	Data Deficient	Least Concern

Physical Traits

Eigenschaft	Arapaima	Greater Amberjack
Maximale Länge	450,0 cm	200,0 cm
Maximales Gewicht	200,0 kg	80,6 kg
Färbung	Dark olive-gray to grayish-black back with large scales that become vivid red-orange with black borders on the posterior flanks; belly pale cream; caudal fin reddish and rounded.	Olive-green to bluish back with a wide amber to golden-yellow mid-lateral stripe running from eye to tail; silvery-white belly; a dark diagonal stripe extends from snout through the eye to the dorsal fin.

Habitat & Environment

Eigenschaft	Arapaima	Greater Amberjack
Wassertyp	Freshwater	Saltwater
Tiefenbereich	—	1-385m
Verbreitungsgebiet	Restricted to the Amazon River basin in Brazil, Peru, Guyana, and Bolivia. Inhabits flooded várzea lakes, oxbows, and large river channels; surfaces frequently to breathe …	Circumglobal in tropical and subtropical waters including the Atlantic, Mediterranean Sea, Indian Ocean, and Pacific. Commonly found around deepwater reefs, rocky outcrops, and offshore oil …
Lebensraum	Floodplain lakes (várzea) and large river channels of the Amazon basin. Slow-moving, shallow, warm freshwater (26-30°C). An obligate air-breather; rises to surface to gulp air. …	Pelagic, coral reefs

Angelinformationen

Eigenschaft	Arapaima	Greater Amberjack
Sportfisch	Ja	Ja
Kampfbewertung	10/10	9/10
Weltrekord	—	—
Quecksilbergehalt	—	—

Cuisine & Edibility

Arapaima

Large, firm white fillets with a mild, clean flavor and low fat; historically a staple protein in Amazonian communities. Often salted and dried; sustainable harvest is tightly regulated.

Greater Amberjack

Firm, rich flesh with a moderately strong flavor; can carry parasites in tropical waters, requiring thorough cooking. Good grilled or baked; related to the highly prized Japanese hamachi.

Species Overview

Arapaima

The arapaima is one of the largest freshwater fish in the world, reaching up to 4.5 meters. An obligate air-breather, it must surface every 10-20 minutes to gulp air. Its tongue is bony and used to crush prey against the roof of its mouth.

Greater Amberjack

The greater amberjack is the largest of the jacks, known for brutal head-shaking fights and powerful dives toward structure. Found near reefs, wrecks, and offshore platforms in tropical and subtropical waters worldwide.