Arapaima vs Summer Flounder

Arapaima gigas verglichen mit Paralichthys dentatus

Taxonomy & Classification

Eigenschaft	Arapaima	Summer Flounder
Wissenschaftlicher Name	Arapaima gigas	Paralichthys dentatus
Ordnung	Osteoglossiformes	Perciformes
Familie	Arapaimidae	Pleuronectidae
Conservation Status	Data Deficient	Least Concern

Physical Traits

Eigenschaft	Arapaima	Summer Flounder
Maximale Länge	450,0 cm	94,0 cm
Maximales Gewicht	200,0 kg	12,0 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.	Eyed side is brownish to gray-green with a mottled pattern of pale blotches; 12–14 distinct pale-edged dark ocelli (eyespots) scattered across the body; blind side is plain white; color changes with substrate.

Habitat & Environment

Eigenschaft	Arapaima	Summer Flounder
Wassertyp	Freshwater	Saltwater
Tiefenbereich	—	10-183m
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 …	Western North Atlantic from Nova Scotia south to Florida and the northern Gulf of Mexico. Undertakes seasonal offshore migration to deeper Continental Shelf waters in …
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. …	Neritic, demersal, estuaries

Angelinformationen

Eigenschaft	Arapaima	Summer Flounder
Sportfisch	Ja	Ja
Kampfbewertung	10/10	4/10
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.

Summer Flounder

Thin, delicate white fillets with a sweet, mild flavor and very low fat. Prized on the U.S. East Coast; superb pan-fried in butter, stuffed and baked, or prepared as ceviche.

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.

Summer Flounder

The summer flounder, or fluke, is a flatfish that lies camouflaged on the ocean floor. Born with eyes on both sides, one eye migrates to the left side during development. An ambush predator, it explodes upward to grab passing prey.