Paiche vs Mero gigante del Atlántico

Arapaima gigas comparado con Epinephelus itajara

Taxonomy & Classification

Atributo	Paiche	Mero gigante del Atlántico
Nombre Científico	Arapaima gigas	Epinephelus itajara
Orden	Osteoglossiformes	Perciformes
Familia	Arapaimidae	Serranidae
Conservation Status	Data Deficient	Vulnerable

Physical Traits

Atributo	Paiche	Mero gigante del Atlántico
Longitud Máxima	450,0 cm	250,0 cm
Peso Máximo	200,0 kg	363,0 kg
Color	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.	Yellow-brown to olive-green body densely covered with small dark brown spots and irregular blotches; 3–4 faint pale vertical bands on the flanks; juveniles show bolder contrasting yellow and black stripes.

Habitat & Environment

Atributo	Paiche	Mero gigante del Atlántico
Tipo de Agua	Freshwater	Saltwater
Rango de Profundidad	—	0-100m
Distribución Geográfica	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 …	Tropical western Atlantic from Florida and the Gulf of Mexico through the Caribbean Sea to Brazil, and eastern Pacific from the Gulf of California to …
Hábitat	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, coral reefs, estuaries

Información de Pesca

Atributo	Paiche	Mero gigante del Atlántico
Pez de Pesca Deportiva	Sí	Sí
Clasificación de Pelea	10/10	9/10
Récord Mundial	—	—
Nivel de Mercurio	—	—

Cuisine & Edibility

Paiche

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.

Mero gigante del Atlántico

Firm, flaky white flesh with a mild, sweet flavor; harvest is heavily restricted or banned throughout most of its range due to Vulnerable status. Catch-and-release strongly encouraged.

Species Overview

Paiche

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.

Mero gigante del Atlántico

The goliath grouper is the largest grouper in the Atlantic Ocean. This massive reef dweller can swallow prey whole and produces a distinctive booming sound by contracting its swim bladder to ward off intruders.