Pirarucu

Categoría de longitud:  Large (>100 cm)

Nivel trópico:  Predator-fish

Patrón Migratorio:  Local (<100 km)

Período de desove:  Low + Rising

Mercado de exportación:  International (outside South America)

Estado del mercado:  First class

Distribución de capturas:

Pirarucu potential yield was estimated to be approximately 1,800 tons. Three important fishery regions accounted for 93% of its potential yield: Peruvian Amazon (40%), Brazilian-Colombian-Peruvian Border (33%) and Central Amazon (28%).

 

Notas de historia natural:

Four or five species of Arapaima are now recognized. Pirarucus are one of the two largest fish groups (genera) in the Amazon Basin. They reach at least 3 meters in length and 150 kg. The pirarucu is an air-breather and its highly modified swim bladder serves as a type of lung. Under normal circumstances the pirarucu surfaces every 20 minutes or so to breathe but can stay under much longer than this. Its surfacing behavior makes it vulnerable to harpoon fishermen. Pirarucu were probably the most important predators in floodplain lakes of the Central and Western Amazon, but populations have now been greatly reduced if not eliminated in many areas.