Paiche vs Rabil

Arapaima gigas comparado con Thunnus albacares

Taxonomy & Classification

Atributo	Paiche	Rabil
Nombre Científico	Arapaima gigas	Thunnus albacares
Orden	Osteoglossiformes	Scombriformes
Familia	Arapaimidae	Scombridae
Conservation Status	Data Deficient	Least Concern

Physical Traits

Atributo	Paiche	Rabil
Longitud Máxima	450,0 cm	239,0 cm
Peso Máximo	200,0 kg	200,0 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.	Dark metallic blue-black back contrasting with a silver-white belly; a golden-yellow lateral band runs mid-body; dorsal, anal, and finlets are bright canary yellow with black edges.

Habitat & Environment

Atributo	Paiche	Rabil
Tipo de Agua	Freshwater	Saltwater
Rango de Profundidad	—	1-1602m
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 …	Pantropical, ranging across the Atlantic, Indian, and Pacific oceans between roughly 40°N and 35°S. Aggregates around seamounts, fish aggregating devices, and thermocline boundaries in pelagic …
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. …	Pelagic, estuaries

Información de Pesca

Atributo	Paiche	Rabil
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.

Rabil

Lean, dense flesh with a clean, meaty flavor; prized for sashimi and poke. Excellent seared rare, grilled as steaks, or served raw; one of the most commercially valued tunas.

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.

Rabil

The yellowfin tuna is a pelagic predator found in tropical and subtropical oceans worldwide. Capable of speeds exceeding 75 km/h, it is prized both as a sport fish and for its high-quality sashimi-grade flesh.