Copyright © Philip M. Parker, INSEAD. Terms of Use.
(From Wikipedia, the free Encyclopedia)
Arowana are freshwater bony fish of the family Osteoglossidae, sometimes known as "Bony tongues".
They are primitive throwbacks from the lower Tertiary and are placed in the actinopterygiid order Osteoglossiformes. Seven described species remain: three from South America, one from Africa and the remaining three from Australasia.
Most are entirely carnnivourous, often being specialised surface feeders. They are excellent jumpers and it has been reported that Osteoglossum species have been seen leaping more than 6 feet from the water surface to pick off monkeys from overhanging branches in South America.
All species are large, and the Arapaima is a contender for the world's largest fish.
The family contains two subfamilies, Heterotidinae and Osteoglossinae, with all but two of the seven extant species being members of the latter.
Classification
Habits
Species
Heterotidinae
Genus Arapaima
Genus Heterotis
Osteoglossinae
Genus Osteoglossum
Cuvier, 1829
Genus Scleropages
Source: the above text is adapted by the editor from Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia under a copyleft GNU Free Documentation License (GFDL) from the article "Arowana."
Copyright © Philip M. Parker, INSEAD. Terms of Use.
