Peru country information

Common names: Paiche
Occurrence: native
Salinity: freshwater
Abundance: | Ref:
Importance: | Ref:
Aquaculture: commercial | Ref: FAO Fishery Information, Data and Statistics Service, 1993
Regulations: restricted | Ref: Wheeler, A., 1977
Uses: live export: yes;
Comments: Known from the Amazon River basin (Ref. 50891). Occurs mainly in Ucayali and Marañon Rivers, with the exception of Pacaya-Samiria (Ref. 9235). Minimum size of capture is 1 m. However, this restriction is hardly enforced (Ref. 557).
National Checklist:
Country Information: httpss://www.cia.gov/library/publications/resources/the-world-factbook/geos/pe.html
National Fisheries Authority:
Occurrences: Occurrences Point map
Main Ref: Ferraris, C.J. Jr., 2003
National Database:

Classification / Names

Actinopterygii (ray-finned fishes) > Osteoglossiformes (Bony tongues) > Arapaimidae (Bonytongues)
Common names | Synonyms | Catalog of Fishes (gen., sp.) | ITIS | CoL

Common names from other countries

Pirarucu, 巨骨舌鱼, Paiche, ... more

Main reference

Ferraris, C.J. Jr. 2003. (Ref. 50891)
References | Biblio | Coordinator | Collaborators

Size / Weight / Age

Max length : 450 cm TL male/unsexed; (Ref. 6398); common length : 200 cm TL male/unsexed; (Ref. 557); max. published weight: 200.0 kg (Ref. 557)

Length at first maturity
L_m ?, range 145 - 154 cm

Environment

Freshwater; demersal; pH range: 6.0 - 6.5; dH range: 10 - ?

Climate / Range

Tropical; 25°C - 29°C (Ref. 2060), preferred ?; 5°N - 11°S

Distribution

South America: Amazon River basin. International trade restricted (CITES II, since 1.7.75). The active fishing of this fish has reduced both the population size, and occurrence of large individuals, especially around the populated regions of the Amazon (Ref. 50891).
Countries | FAO areas | Ecosystems | Occurrences | Introductions

Often referred to as the largest freshwater fish. Builds a nest of about 15 cm depth and 50 cm width in sandy bottoms. Spawns in April and May and guards the eggs and the young. Obligate air breather. The fish rises to the surface of the water and inspires air in a noisy, distinctive gulp, which is reported to carry for long distances (Ref. 50891). Threatened due to over harvesting (Ref. 58490).

IUCN Red List Status (Ref. 115185)

Data deficient (DD)

Threat to humans

Harmless

Human uses

Fisheries: commercial; aquaculture: commercial; gamefish: yes; aquarium: public aquariums

More information

Countries
FAO areas
Ecosystems
Occurrences
Introductions
Stocks
Ecology
Diet
Food items
Food consumption
Ration

Common names
Synonyms
Metabolism
Predators
Ecotoxicology
Reproduction
Maturity
Spawning
Fecundity
Eggs
Egg development

Age/Size
Growth
Length-weight
Length-length
Length-frequencies
Morphometrics
Morphology
Larvae
Larval dynamics
Recruitment
Abundance

References
Aquaculture
Aquaculture profile
Strains
Genetics
Allele frequencies
Heritability
Diseases
Processing
Mass conversion

Collaborators
Pictures
Stamps, Coins
Sounds
Ciguatera
Speed
Swim. type
Gill area
Otoliths
Brains
Vision

Tools

Special reports

Check for Aquarium maintenance | Check for Species Fact Sheets | Check for Aquaculture Fact Sheets

Download XML

Summary page | Point data | Common names | Photos

Internet sources

Estimates of some properties based on models

Phylogenetic diversity index (Ref. 82805)
PD₅₀ = 0.5938 many relatives (e.g. carps) 0.5 - 2.0 few relatives (e.g. lungfishes)

Trophic Level (Ref. 69278)
4.5 ±0.0 se; Based on diet studies.

Resilience (Ref. 69278)
Low, minimum population doubling time 4.5 - 14 years (tm=4-6; Fec=47,000)

Vulnerability (Ref. 59153)
Moderate to high vulnerability (54 of 100)

Price category (Ref. 80766)
Unknown

Arapaima gigas (Schinz, 1822)