Arapaima vs Wahoo

Arapaima gigas comparado com Acanthocybium solandri

Taxonomy & Classification

Atributo	Arapaima	Wahoo
Nome Científico	Arapaima gigas	Acanthocybium solandri
Ordem	Osteoglossiformes	Scombriformes
Família	Arapaimidae	Scombridae
Conservation Status	Data Deficient	Least Concern

Physical Traits

Atributo	Arapaima	Wahoo
Comprimento Máximo	450,0 cm	250,0 cm
Peso Máximo	200,0 kg	83,0 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.	Iridescent dark blue-green back with a silvery-white belly; distinct blue or grey vertical tiger-like bars and spots along the flanks that fade quickly after death; fins dusky.

Habitat & Environment

Atributo	Arapaima	Wahoo
Tipo de Água	Freshwater	Saltwater
Faixa de Profundidade	—	0-20m
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 …	Circumglobal in tropical and subtropical waters of all major ocean basins. Favors clear offshore waters around oceanic islands, reef drop-offs, and current edges in the …
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. …	Pelagic

Informações de Pesca

Atributo	Arapaima	Wahoo
Peixe Esportivo	Sim	Sim
Classificação de Resistência	10/10	8/10
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.

Wahoo

Delicate, flaky white flesh with a mild, sweet flavor and very low fat. Among the finest-tasting sport fish; best grilled, seared, or served as ceviche to preserve its subtle flavor.

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.

Wahoo

The wahoo is one of the fastest fish in the ocean, capable of reaching speeds of 97 km/h. Its elongated, torpedo-shaped body and razor-sharp teeth make it an efficient pelagic predator found in tropical and subtropical waters worldwide.