Arapaima mapae facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Arapaima mapae |
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The Arapaima mapae is a special type of freshwater fish. It lives only in Brazil, specifically in a lake called Lago do Amapá in Amapá State. This means it is endemic to that one place, like a unique treasure found nowhere else!
This fish is part of a group called arapaimas. These are amazing fish because they can breathe air, and some of them are among the biggest freshwater fish in the world.
How We Know About This Fish
We know about the Arapaima mapae from just one fish specimen. This single fish was caught way back in 1837. A French army officer bought it from a local trader in French Guiana. Later, a scientist named Achille Valenciennes studied it and described it as a new species.
For a long time, scientists weren't sure if it was truly a different species. But in 2013, a big study looked at many Arapaima fish from all over the world. They found enough differences in its body shape to confirm that Arapaima mapae is indeed its own unique species.
Why It Needs Our Help
Scientists haven't been able to find more Arapaima mapae in the wild since that first one. Because of this, we don't know how many are left or how they are doing. The IUCN Red List has classified it as "data deficient". This means there isn't enough information to say if it's endangered or not.
Even though we don't have much information, there are some things that could threaten this fish. These include:
- Overfishing: People might catch too many of them.
- Habitat damage: The places where they live, like lakes and rivers, could get polluted or changed.
- New fish species: Other types of arapaima fish might be brought into their home. These new fish could compete for food or space.
It's important to protect unique species like the Arapaima mapae so they can continue to be a part of our planet's amazing biodiversity.
See also
In Spanish: Arapaima mapae para niños
