Arapaima vs Electric Eel
Arapaima gigas comparado com Electrophorus electricus
Taxonomy & Classification
| Atributo | Arapaima | Electric Eel |
|---|---|---|
| Nome Científico | Arapaima gigas | Electrophorus electricus |
| Ordem | Osteoglossiformes | Gymnotiformes |
| Família | Arapaimidae | Gymnotidae |
| Conservation Status | Data Deficient | Least Concern |
Physical Traits
| Atributo | Arapaima | Electric Eel |
|---|---|---|
| Comprimento Máximo | 450,0 cm | 250,0 cm |
| Peso Máximo | 200,0 kg | 20,0 kg |
| Cor | 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 olive-gray to grayish-brown cylinder-shaped body with a pale yellowish-orange throat and chin; back uniformly dark; scaleless skin has a smooth appearance; long ribbon-like anal fin is pinkish. |
Habitat & Environment
| Atributo | Arapaima | Electric Eel |
|---|---|---|
| Tipo de Água | Freshwater | Freshwater |
| Faixa de Profundidade | — | — |
| Distribuição 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 … | Native to the Orinoco and Amazon river basins in Venezuela, Guyana, Suriname, and Brazil. Inhabits murky, oxygen-depleted floodplain pools, swamps, and slow-moving streams in lowland … |
| Habitat | 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. … | Estuaries |
Informações de Pesca
| Atributo | Arapaima | Electric Eel |
|---|---|---|
| Peixe Esportivo | Sim | Não |
| Classificação de Resistência | 10/10 | — |
| Recorde Mundial | — | — |
| Nível de Mercúrio | — | — |
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.
Electric Eel
Not consumed — an ornamental and scientific novelty species kept in specialized aquarium exhibits; edible in principle but extremely dangerous to handle due to powerful electric discharge.
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.
Electric Eel
Despite its name, the electric eel is not a true eel but a knifefish. It can generate electrical discharges of up to 860 volts to stun prey and defend itself. About 80% of its body is dedicated to three electric organs.