WHATSTHATFISH
Bony fish

Arawana

Osteoglossum bicirrhosum

Also known as: Dragonfish, Silver Arowana, Water Monkey

LCLeast ConcernIUCN Red List, 2023
Adult
@louiseraskin · home, Belgium · November 20171 / 4
01

Overview

Found close to the shore, lurking, under overhanging branches, in rivers, and streams.
They feed on bats, birds, surface fish, and insects, catching their prey, by leaping out of the water.
South America - Amazon River basin, Rupununi and Oyapock Rivers

Valued aquarium fish although hard to keep!
The name "bonytongues" is derived from a toothed bone on the floor of the mouth, the "tongue", equipped with teeth that bite against teeth on the roof of the mouth. The arowana is a facultative air breather and can obtain oxygen from air by sucking it into its swim bladder.

02

How to identify

COLOURS

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03

Habitat & where to find it

  • Country only · 4
LIVES IN

Found close to the shore, lurking, under overhanging branches, in rivers, and streams.

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Adult photos 4

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Discussion

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    ALL STAGES
    FOR THE MARINE-BIOLOGY CURIOUS

    Deep dive

    Taxonomy

    1. kingdomAnimalia
    2. phylumChordata
    3. classTeleostei
    4. orderOsteoglossiformes
    5. familyOsteoglossidae
    6. genusOsteoglossum
    7. speciesOsteoglossum bicirrhosum (Cuvier, 1829)

    SourcesWoRMSFishBase

    06

    More in the family

    Osteoglossiformes