The Amazon River can be called one of the wonders of the planet. In terms of fame, she competes with the Nile and the Ganges. The unique ecosystem of the longest water artery on earth attracts lovers of tropical flora and fauna. The plants and animals of the Amazon amaze with their diversity. Here you can meet unique and very dangerous living creatures.

Amazon Basin

The Amazon basin is the largest lowland on our planet. It covers an area of ​​more than six million square kilometers. Almost all of this territory is covered with tropical rainforests (Amazon jungle). This tropical forest is the largest in the world. The center of the region is the Amazon itself - the most full-flowing river on earth. It's hard to imagine, but its tributaries collect water from nine countries: Colombia, Brazil, Peru, Ecuador, Venezuela, Guyana, Bolivia, French Guyana and Suriname.

Flora and fauna of the Amazon

The region is incredibly important due to the fact that it is a unique ecosystem. vegetable and animal world Amazon is unique. It has so much variety. And many representatives of the local fauna and flora are endemic and are found only in this area.

It is worth noting that in the Amazon there is the largest variety of plants. Oddly enough, but the region is still little studied, and therefore many animals and plants of the Amazon are still unknown to science. Some researchers believe that the real number of plant varieties in this region is three times more than is known today. Science knows only about 750 species of trees, 400 species of birds, 125 species of mammals and countless invertebrates and insects. More than two thousand fish and many reptiles live in the river.

Flora of the Amazon

Until 2011 wild forests The Amazons were ruthlessly cut down. And the reason for this was not only wood. People adapted to clear the liberated lands for agricultural activities. However, it is worth remembering that the most diverse vegetation on the entire planet is concentrated in the river basin. The Amazon forests play a very important role in globe. They are a huge source of oxygen. In addition, forests maintain the required level of groundwater, preventing the destruction of soil cover. Over 4,000 species of trees grow in the Amazon jungle - this is the fourth part of all known tree species in the world.

Palm trees, myrtle, laurel, begonias, mangroves grow in the forests. And from fruit there are pineapples, bananas, guava, mango, orange, fig tree. The Amazon rainforest can be considered the world's genetic fund. Even in small areas, the species diversity is striking. So, for example, on ten square kilometers of forest you can find up to 1500 varieties of flowers, 750 species of trees. With all this, as we mentioned earlier, far from all tropical riches have been studied and described by scientists. One can only guess what other plants grow in the depths of the Amazon.

Valuable representatives of the plant world

Many representatives flora are of great value. So, for example, in the forests of the Amazon, giant nuts grow, or rather, Bertolecia walnut trees. They are famous for their amazing taste. Each shell, weighing up to twenty kilograms, contains about twenty nuts. It is possible to collect such fruits only in completely calm weather, since inadvertently plucked nuts by the wind can cause significant harm to the picker.

No less interesting is the one that gives a sweet drink that resembles milk. But cocoa is obtained from the fruit. In the forests of the Amazon there is a huge number of trees that can be listed for a long time. Among them, the rubber Last is famous for its lightest wood. On rafts of such trees, the Indians are rafted down the river. Sometimes their dimensions are so large that an entire village can fit on such a raft.

But of course, most of all in the Amazon are palm trees. In total, there are more than a hundred species. An interesting fact is that all of them are very valuable for a person. Fiber, wood, nuts, juice and much more are obtained from them. And only rattan palm is disliked by many, and the Indians generally call it the "devil's rope." The fact is that this plant is the longest tree on Earth. It looks more like a liana and sometimes reaches 300 meters in length. The thin trunk of a palm tree is dotted with incredibly sharp thorns. Rattan palm creates impenetrable thickets, braiding the trunks and branches of nearby bushes and trees.

Victoria Regia

The nature and animals of the Amazon are sometimes so amazing that they amaze the imagination. The most famous plant of these places can be considered a water lily with beautiful name Victoria Regia. This is a giant plant, the leaves of which reach several meters in diameter and can withstand up to 50 kilograms of weight.

The largest water lily in the world blooms from March to July. Its flowers exude the most delicate apricot aroma, each of them reaches forty centimeters in diameter. You can see this miracle of nature only at night, because the flower begins to bloom only in the evening. On the first day of flowering, the petals are white color, the next day it becomes light pink, and then even dark crimson and even purple.

Animal world of the Amazon

The Amazon rainforest is full of rare animals, some of which are on the verge of extinction: baker, sloth, spider monkey, armadillo, freshwater dolphin, boa, crocodile. The fauna of the Amazon is so diverse that it is difficult to count all its representatives.

Near the coast of the river you can meet a stunning creature, reaching 200 kilograms. He, as a rule, moves along the paths along the river, looking for algae, twigs, leaves and fruits for food.

Near the reservoirs live such animals of the Amazon as the capybara (the largest rodents in the world). Their weight reaches 50 kilograms. Outwardly, animals resemble guinea pig. And along the banks of the river, the anaconda, which is rightly considered an incredibly dangerous creature, is waiting for its victims.

The most dangerous animals of the Amazon

Tropical forests are not only incredibly interesting places, but also unsafe. Not all of their inhabitants are distinguished by a meek disposition. The most dangerous animals of the Amazon terrify any person. Yes, this is not surprising, because a meeting with one of them can lead to the most sad consequences. It is not for nothing that some inhabitants of the jungle have long been the heroes of numerous horror films.

Dangerous animals of the Amazon are impressive in size and capable of harming not only their fellows, but also humans. One of their list is the electric eel, which can grow up to three meters and weigh up to forty kilograms. The fish is capable of generating discharges up to 1300 volts. For adults, an electric shock, of course, is not fatal, but very unpleasant.

They live in the waters of the Amazon. Their length is two meters, and some individuals reach three meters. The weight of the largest fish was 200 kilograms. It is believed that arapaima do not pose a danger to people, but in 2009 there was a case of attack on several men, because of which they died. Therefore, it is worth being wary of such inhabitants. Because they are by no means safe.

Still, it is worth remembering that the wild animals of the Amazon live in dangerous world where every minute of their lives is filled with the struggle for survival.

The Brazilian lives in the jungle wandering spider, which is also known as banana. It is believed to be incredibly poisonous. In addition, it is included in the list of the largest spiders on the planet (13-15 centimeters). An interesting fact is that the insect does not always inject poison into its prey, this happens only in 30% of cases.

But the spotted tree frog is incredibly dangerous to humans. A cute little frog with colorful covers reaches no more than five centimeters. But at the same time, her skin contains so much poison that it can kill 10 people at once.

Five most dangerous creatures

The most dangerous animals in the Amazon are jaguars, caimans, anacondas, piranhas and mosquitoes. These representatives of the fauna are a thunderstorm of the jungle and pose a danger not only to people, but also to forest dwellers.

Jaguars are the largest felines in the Western Hemisphere. Males weigh up to a hundred kilograms on average. The diet of animals includes up to 87 different creatures from mice to deer. Of course, they attack people quite sharply. Basically, this situation can develop if the animal is forced to defend itself. But still, it is worth understanding that a wild predator is not a plush toy or a cute pussycat.

They live in the waters of the Amazon. They grow up to five meters in length. At one time, their merciless extermination led to the fact that they were on the verge of extinction. But in the future, the situation improved as a result of the adoption of the strictest laws. Caimans prefer to hunt at night, and attack from ambush. Animals feed mostly on fish (and even piranhas), as well as aquatic vertebrates. Larger specimens attack jaguars, anacondas, wild cattle, and even humans.

Meeting in the jungle with an anaconda is not the most pleasant event. Its weight reaches one hundred kilograms, and the length of the body can reach up to six meters. Anaconda is the longest snake in the world. She spends most of her time in the water, but sometimes she crawls out onto land to bask in the sun. It feeds on reptiles and quadrupeds, attacking them on the shore.

The most famous inhabitants of the Amazon are piranhas. They have incredibly sharp teeth and powerful jaws. Each fish reaches thirty centimeters and weighs about a kilogram. Piranhas are characterized by a flocking lifestyle. In large groups, they swim in search of food, devouring everything that comes their way.

For humans, mosquitoes are an incredible danger. They are the main threat to the Amazon forests. Feeding on blood, they spread incredible dangerous diseases that slay livestock and people. From their bite, you can get yellow fever, malaria, filariasis. For this reason, it is mosquitoes that lead the list of the most dangerous inhabitants of the jungle.

manatees

What else is interesting about the Amazon? The nature and fauna of the jungle is certainly dangerous, but among its inhabitants there are very cute creatures. Like the manatee. Unlike their counterparts, they are more modest in size (2-3 meters) and weigh up to 500 kilograms, animals live in the fresh waters of the Amazon.

They have practically no subcutaneous fat, and therefore they can only live in a warm environment at a temperature of at least fifteen degrees. Manatees feed only on algae, eating up to 18 kilograms per day.

pink dolphin

Another charming inhabitant of the river is the baby dolphin, born with a bluish-gray color, but gradually acquire a stunning pink hue. Adults weigh up to 250 kilograms and grow up to two meters. Dolphins feed mainly on fish, sometimes eating piranhas.

Instead of an afterword

The Indians in ancient times called the Amazon "parana-tago", which means "queen of the rivers". It is difficult to disagree with them, because this unique river with its amazingly diverse flora and fauna, in some ways dangerous, and in some ways mysterious, deserves such a title.

black caiman

The largest individuals of this alligator reach 6 m in length. They have the reaction of a mongoose and the strength of a tiger. The most dangerous predators of the Amazon, which will tear to shreds anyone who falls into their huge mouths.

Anaconda

Another huge predator that lives in local waters is the anaconda. This is the largest snake in the world, weighing up to 250 kg. Anacondas reach 9 m in length and 30 cm in diameter. If such a snake wraps itself around a person, he will no longer be saved. These monsters love shallow water, so they spend most of their time in the tributaries of the river.

Arapaima

These giants have armored scales, so even piranhas are nothing to them. Arapaims hunt mainly for more than small fish and birds, but sometimes attack humans. Fish grow up to 3 m in length and weigh up to 90 kg. The monsters are so ferocious that they even have teeth on their tongues.

brazilian otter

Even the otters here are gigantic. These 2-meter animals prey on fish and crabs. However, strength is in numbers: straying into flocks, they kill adult anacondas and even caimans.

Vandellia vulgaris (Brazilian vampire)

bull sharks

Such cute little animals most often live in salty ocean water. Unfortunately, sometimes they swim into fresh waters and terrify the locals. Their jaws provide a bite force of 589 kg. After meeting with them, usually no one survives.

electric eels

Two-meter eels can hit the victim with a charge of up to 600 volts. And this is almost 3 times more than in the outlet. It seems like a killer tension, but it's not. It's not the discharge that kills. The victim simply stops breathing from the pain shock, and she drowns in the water.

Piranhas Common

These little critters often feature in Hollywood horror movies. And it's not without reason that they have gained fame as ruthless killers. The sharp teeth of these fish close and tear the flesh to shreds. It is noteworthy that piranhas are scavengers. But they do not disdain fresh meat.

Mackerel hydrolic

These underwater bloodsuckers have truly vampiric fangs located on the lower jaw of hydrolics. The victim is impaled on them, as if on a stake, and can no longer escape anywhere. There are special holes in the sky of hydrolics to hide such long fangs.

brown pacu

These fish with human smiles are relatives of the piranhas mentioned earlier. Although pacu prefer fruits and nuts, there are also cases of attacks on people.

The Amazon is home to many thousands of fish species that are found nowhere else in the world. The most big fish The Amazon, which was called the Arapaima by the locals, is a real giant, and some scientists attribute this species to the largest of those that live in freshwater rivers.

The freshwater arapaima is the largest fish in the Amazon, as it can reach approximately 2.5-3 m in length and weigh over 200 kg. Despite the fact that even 100 years ago, large fish of this species were not a rare prey for relevant fishermen, at present, even individuals of 50 kg are rarely found. The popularity of catching arapaima is explained by the fact that this meat of this fish has excellent taste. The gradual decline of the arapaima population in the waters of the Amazon has drawn the attention of scientists to this species. Most often, large individuals of arapaima are found in the Brazilian and Peruvian parts of the Amazon, but scientists believe that adult fish can move along the riverbed, migrating for seasonal spawning in more clear waters. Arapaims are found throughout the Amazon, but not so often.

In fact, arapaima is a truly amazing creature, because despite its large size, it can survive in fresh water, where oxygen saturation levels are not too high. The thing is that this amazing fish is able to breathe not only with gills. She has a primitive lung, which allows her to compensate for the lack of oxygen necessary to nourish the tissues of such a large body. Arapaima, living in different parts of the Amazon, emerge to breathe air every 20-30 minutes. Large specimens of arapaima prefer quiet backwaters, the total area of ​​which does not exceed 140 m, which are numerous along the entire length of the river. It is the fact that this large fish lives in shallow pools that do not differ in significant size, which makes it extremely vulnerable to fishermen.

Arapaima feeds mainly on bottom fish and crustaceans, but may also include some fruits in the diet, which fall into the river in excess during a flood. This fish has excellent hearing and sense of smell, so it can smell ripe fruits in the water even from a great distance. Adult arapaima are very caring parents. During the breeding season, which falls in November for these fish, they move closer to the sandy shores, where they dig a small depression where the female throws the game. After that, the male is constantly on duty near the hole with eggs, and the female drives away fish that try to approach. Thus, fish provide reliable protection for future generations. After hatching, the juvenile stays near the head of the adult and even rises to breathe with the parent. Only after 3-4 months, the connection weakens, and the juveniles begin an independent life.

The abundance of food in the Amazon River leads to the fact that arapaima grow rapidly and gain weight. The number of arapaima in the waters of the Amazon is gradually declining, since if earlier only large individuals were exterminated by harpoons, now the use of modern nets has made it possible to catch juveniles.

The Amazon rainforest is one of the most interesting and at the same time unsafe places in the world, as it is inhabited by very dangerous creatures that can kill a person. So, here is a list of the ten most unusual and amazing, but deadly animals that live in the basin of one of the longest rivers in the world - the Amazon.

electric eel- a fish that lives in the fresh waters of the Amazon, next to the muddy bottom. They can grow from 1 to 3 meters and weigh up to 40 kg. An electric eel is capable of generating voltages up to 1300 V. with a current strength of up to 1 A. For a person, such an electric shock is not fatal, but very painful and can even cause a heart attack.

This rare view feline lives in tropical forest, and are the largest cats in the Western Hemisphere (in the world, only lions and tigers are larger). Males (on average 90-95 kg, but there are individuals reaching 120 kg) are larger than females by approximately 20%. The jaguar's diet consists of 87 different animals, from deer to mice. These predators attack people extremely rarely, mainly when they are forced to defend themselves.

A species of large crocodiles that grow up to 5 meters in length. At one time, these creatures were on the verge of extinction in the Amazon region, but strict laws against hunting have increased their numbers. Hunts at night, preferring to ambush. The black caiman mainly feeds on fish (including piranhas), aquatic vertebrates, and larger individuals can attack livestock, jaguars, anacondas, and humans.

The mass of the anaconda can reach approximately 100 kg, and the length is 6 meters. It is one of the longest snakes in the world. It mainly leads an aquatic lifestyle, occasionally crawling ashore in order to bask in the sun, sometimes crawling on tree branches. It feeds on various tetrapods and reptiles, lying in wait for them on the shore, less often on fish. In nature, an adult anaconda has no enemies.

piranha

These fish have sharp teeth and powerful jaws. They reach lengths up to 30 centimeters and weight up to 1 kg. Most of the time they spend in search of prey, hunting in huge flocks. They feed on everything that comes their way, especially fish.

Share on social networks

The giant arapaima is one of the largest and least studied fish in the world. Those descriptions of fish that are found in the literature are borrowed mainly from the unreliable stories of travelers.

It is even strange how little has been done so far to deepen our knowledge of the biology and behavior of the arapaima. For years, it has been hunted mercilessly both in the Peruvian and Brazilian parts of the Amazon, and in its many tributaries. At the same time, no one cared about studying it and did not think about preserving it. Schools of fish seemed inexhaustible. And only when the number of fish began to noticeably decrease, interest in it appeared.

Arapaima is one of the largest freshwater fish in the world. Representatives of this species live in the Amazon in Brazil, Guyana and Peru. Adults reach 2.5 m in length and weigh up to 200 kg. The uniqueness of the arapaima is the ability to breathe air. Due to their archaic morphology, the fish is considered a living fossil. In Brazil, fishing is allowed only once a year. Initially, the fish was harvested with the help of harpoons when it rose to breathe on the surface.

Today it is caught mainly with nets. Let's take a look at this in more detail..

Photo 2.

Photo: View of the Amazon River from the window of the Cessna 208 amphibious aircraft that brought photographer Bruno Kelly from Manaus to the village of Medio Jurua, municipality of Carauari, Amazonas state, Brazil, on September 3, 2012.
REUTERS/Bruno Kelly

In Brazil, giant fish have been placed in ponds in the hope that they will take root there. In eastern Peru, in the jungles of the province of Loreto, certain areas of rivers and a number of lakes are left as a reserve fund. It is allowed to fish here only under the license of the Ministry Agriculture.

Arapaima lives throughout the Amazon basin. To the east, it occurs in two areas separated by the black and acidic waters of the Rio Negro. Arapaima is not found in Rio Negro, but the river, apparently, is not an insurmountable barrier for fish. Otherwise, one would have to assume the existence of two species of fish, having different origins and living north and south of this river.

The western distribution area of ​​\u200b\u200bthe arapaima is probably Rio Morona, to the east of it, Rio Pastaza and Lake Rimachi, where a huge amount of fish is found. This is the second protected reservoir in Peru for breeding and observing arapaima.

The adult arapaima is painted very picturesquely: the color of its back changes from bluish-black to metallic green, the belly - from cream to greenish-white, the sides and tail are silver-gray. Each of its huge scales shimmers with all sorts of shades of red (in Brazil, the fish is called pirarucu, which means red fish).

Photo 3.

Swinging in time with the movements of the fishermen, a small canoe floated along the mirror-like surface of the Amazon. Suddenly, the water at the bow of the boat began to swirl, the mouth of a giant fish stuck out, exhaling air with a whistle. The fishermen stared dumbfounded at the monster two human heights long, covered with a scaly shell. And the giant splashed his blood-red tail - and disappeared into the depths ...

Tell such a Russian fisherman, he will immediately be ridiculed. Who is not familiar with fishing tales: either a giant fish will fall off the hook, or the local Nessie will be seen. But on the Amazon, meeting a giant is a reality.

Arapaima is one of the largest freshwater fish. There were specimens 4.5 m long! Now you don't see them. Since 1978, the record of the Rio Negro River (Brazil) has been held, where they caught arapaima with data of 2.48 m - 147 kg (the price of a kilogram of tender and tasty meat, which has almost no bones, far exceeds the monthly income of Amazonian fishermen. In North America, it can be seen in antique shops).

Photo 4.

This strange creature looks like a representative of the era of dinosaurs. Yes, it is true: a living fossil has not changed in 135 million years. Tropical Goliath has adapted to the marshy swamps of the Amazon basin: the bladder attached to the esophagus acts as a lung, the arapaima protrudes from the water every 10-15 minutes. She, as it were, “patrols” the Amazon basin, captures small fish in her mouth and grinds them with a bony, rough tongue (locals use it as sandpaper).

Photo 5.

These giants live in freshwater reservoirs. South America, in particular in the eastern and western parts of the Amazon basin (in the Rio Morona, Rio Pastaza and Lake Rimachi). In these places there is a huge number of arapaima. In the Amazon itself, this fish is not so much, because. she prefers quiet streams with a weak current and a lot of vegetation. A pond with indented banks and a large number of floating plants is the ideal place for its habitat and existence.

Photo 6.

According to local residents, this fish can reach 4 meters in length and weigh about 200 kilograms. But arapaima is a valuable commercial fish, so now you can hardly find such huge specimens in nature. In our time, most often come across specimens no more than 2-2.5 meters. But still, giants can be found, for example, in special aquariums or reserves.

Photo 7.

Previously, arapaima were caught in large quantities and did not think about its population. Now, when the stocks of these fish have noticeably decreased, in some countries of South America, for example, in eastern Peru, areas of rivers and lakes have been identified that are strictly protected and fishing in these places is allowed only under license from the Ministry of Agriculture. Yes, but in limited quantities.

Photo 8.

An adult can reach 3-4 meters. The powerful body of the fish is covered with large scales, which shimmer with various shades of red. This is especially noticeable in its tail. For this, the locals gave the fish another name - piraruku, which translates as "red fish". The fish themselves have a different color - from "green metallic" to bluish-black.

Photo 9.

Her respiratory system is very unusual. The pharynx and swim bladder of the fish are covered with lung tissue, which allows the fish to breathe normal air. Such an adaptation has developed due to the low oxygen content in the waters of these freshwater rivers. Thanks to this, arapaima can easily survive the drought.

Photo 10.

You can't confuse the breathing pattern of this fish with anyone else. When they rise to the surface for a breath of fresh air, small whirlpools begin to form on the water surface, and then the fish itself appears at this place with a huge open mouth. All this action lasts just a couple of seconds. She releases the "old" air and takes a new sip, her mouth closes abruptly and the fish goes to the depths. Adults breathe like this every 10-15 minutes, young ones a little more often.

Photo 11.

On the head of these fish are special glands that secrete a special mucus. But what it is for, you will find out a little later.

Photo 12.

These giants feed on bottom fish, sometimes they can eat small animals, such as birds. In juveniles, freshwater shrimp are the main dish.

Photo 13.

The breeding season for pyrarucu is in November. But they begin to create pairs already in August-September. These giants are very caring parents, especially males. Then I immediately remembered how the male "sea dragons" take care of their offspring. These fish are not far behind. The male digs a shallow hole with a diameter of about 50 centimeters near the shore. The female lays her eggs in it. Then, throughout the entire period of development and maturation of eggs, the male is next to the clutch. He guards the eggs and swims near the "nest", while the females at this time drive away the fish swimming nearby.

Photo 14.

A week later, fry are born. The male is also next to them. Or maybe they are with him? The young are kept in a dense flock near his head, and even to breathe they rise together. But how does a male manage to discipline his kids like that? There is a secret. Remember, I mentioned special glands on the head of adults. So, the mucus that is secreted by these glands contains a stable substance that attracts fry. It is what makes them stick together. But after 2.5-3 months, when the young grow up a little, these flocks break up. The bond between parents and children is weakening.

Photo 38.

Once the meat of these monsters was the staple food of the peoples of the Amazon. Since the late 1960s, in many rivers, arapaims have disappeared completely: after all, only large fish were killed with a harpoon, while the nets also made it possible to catch babies. The government has banned the sale of arapaime less than a meter and a half long, but the taste, which only trout and salmon can compete with, pushes people to break the law. Arapaima breeding in artificial pools with heated water is promising: they grow as much as five times faster than carps!

Photo 15.

However, here is the opinion of K. X. Lyuling:

The literature of past years greatly exaggerates the size of the arapaima. To some extent, these exaggerations began with the descriptions of R. Schomburk in the book Fishes of British Guiana, written after a trip to Guiana in 1836. Schomburk writes that fish can reach a length of 14 feet (foot = 0.305 meters) and weigh up to 400 pounds (pound = 0.454 kilograms). However, this information was obtained by the author secondhand - from the words of the local population - he personally did not have evidence to confirm such data. In a well-known book on the fish of the world, McCormick expresses doubts about the authenticity of these stories. After reviewing all available and more or less reliable information, he concludes that members of the Arapaima species never exceed 9 feet in length, a fairly substantial size for a freshwater fish.

My own experience convinced me that McCormick was right. The animals we caught in Rio Pacay averaged 6 feet in length. most big fish turned out to be a female 7 feet long and weighing 300 pounds. Obviously, the illustration from the old editions of Brehm's Animal Life, which depicted an Indian sitting on the back of a pyrarucu, 12 to 15 feet long, should be considered sheer fantasy.

The distribution of arapaima in certain areas of the river apparently depends more on the vegetation growing there than on the nature of the water itself. For fish, a heavily indented coast with a wide strip of coastal floating plants is needed, which, intertwined, form floating meadows.

For this reason alone, fast-flowing rivers like the Amazon are unsuitable for the existence of the Arapaima. The bottom of the Amazon always remains smooth and uniform, so there are few floating plants, the ones that are usually tangled among shrubs and hanging branches.

On Rio Pacai we found arapaima in backwaters, where, in addition to floating meadows of aquatic grasses, floating mimosas and hyacinths grew. In other places, these species may have been replaced by floating ferns, victoria-regia, and some others. The giant fish is invisible between the plants.

It is perhaps not surprising that arapaims prefer to breathe air rather than the oxygen of the swampy waters in which they live.

Photo 16.

Arapaima's manner of inhaling air is very characteristic. When it comes to the surface big fish, first a whirlpool forms on the water surface. Then suddenly the fish itself appears with its mouth open. She quickly releases air, making a clicking sound, inhales Fresh air and immediately plunges into the depths.

According to the whirlpool formed on the surface of the water, fishermen hunting for arapaima determine where to throw the harpoon. They throw their heavy weapons right into the middle of the whirlpool and most of the time they miss their target. But the fact is that a giant fish often lives in small reservoirs, 60-140 meters long, and whirlpools are constantly formed here, and therefore, the likelihood of a harpoon hitting an animal increases. Adults appear on the surface every 10-15 minutes, young ones more often.

Having reached a certain size, arapaima moves to the fish table, specializing mainly in bottom armored fish. In the stomachs of arapaima, the prickly needles of the pectoral fins of these fish are most often found.

In Rio Pakai, obviously, the conditions for the life of arapaima are the most favorable. The fish living here reach maturity within four to five years. By this time they are about six feet long and weigh between 80 and 100 pounds. It is believed (although not proven) that some, and possibly all, adults breed twice a year.

Once I was lucky enough to watch a pair of arapimes preparing to spawn. Everything happened in the clear and still waters of the quiet bay of Rio Pakai. The behavior of arapaima during spawning and their further care for offspring is truly an amazing sight.

Photo 17.

In all likelihood, the spawning hole in the soft clay bottom of the fish is pulled out by mouth. In the quiet bay where we made our observations, the fish chose to spawn at a depth of only five feet below the surface. For several days, the male was within this place, and the female almost all the time kept 10-15 meters from him.

The young, hatched from the eggs, remain in the hole for about seven days. Next to them is constantly a male, either circling over the hole, or perched on the side. After that, the fry rise to the surface, relentlessly following the male and keeping in a dense flock near his head. Under the supervision of the father, the whole flock floats to the surface at once to inhale the air-Spirit.

At the age of seven to eight days, the fry begin to feed on plankton. Watching the fish through the still waters of our quiet bay, we did not notice that the fish were rearing young growth "in vtu", that is, they would take the fish in their mouths in a moment of danger. There were also no signs that the larvae feed on a substance secreted from the platelike gills located on the heads of the parents. The local population makes a clear mistake, assuming that the young are fed by parental "milk".

In November 1959, I was able to count 11 schools of young fish in a lake of about 160 acres (an acre is about 0.4 hectares). They swam close to the shore and parallel to it. The flocks seemed to avoid the wind. This is probably due to the fact that the waves formed by the wind make it difficult to inhale air from the surface of the water.

We decided to see what would happen to a flock of fish if it suddenly lost its parents, and caught them. The orphaned fish, having lost contact with their parents, obviously lost contact with each other. The tight flock began to disintegrate and eventually dispersed. After some time, we noticed that the juveniles in other flocks differ significantly from each other in size. Such a large contrast could hardly be explained by the fact that the same generation of fish developed differently. Apparently, other Arapaima adopted orphans. Expanding the circle of swimming after the death of their parents, the orphaned flock of fish spontaneously mixed with neighboring groups.

Photo 18.

On the head of the arapaima there are glands of a very interesting structure. Outside, they have a number of small, tongue-like protrusions, at the ends of which, with a magnifying glass, tiny holes can be discerned. Through these openings, the mucus formed in the glands is secreted.

The secretion of these glands is not used as food, although this would seem to be the simplest and most obvious explanation for its purpose. It performs much more important functions. Here is an example. When we pulled the male out of the water, the flock accompanying him remained for a long time in the very place from which he had disappeared. And one more thing: a flock of juveniles gathers around a gauze pad, previously soaked in the secretions of the male. From both examples, it follows that the male secretes a relatively stable substance, thanks to which the whole group is held together.

At the age of two and a half - three and a half months, flocks of young animals begin to disintegrate. By this time, the bond between parents and children is weakening.

Photo 19.

Residents of the village of Medio Jurua display gutted piraruca at Lake Manaria, Carauari municipality, Amazonas state, Brazil, on September 3, 2012. Piraruku is the largest freshwater fish South America.
REUTERS/Bruno Kelly

Photo 20.

Photo 21.