African arowana facts for kids
Quick facts for kids African arowana |
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| Conservation status | |
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| Genus: |
Heterotis (fish)
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| Species: |
niloticus
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| Red:extant , Light red: possibly extant, Green:introduced | |
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Genus
Species
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The African arowana or Nile arowana (Heterotis niloticus) is a unique type of bonytongue fish. Even though it's called an "arowana," it's actually more closely related to arapaimas. These are the only other fish in their special group called Arapaiminae.
Other arowanas, like those from South America, Asia, and Australia, belong to a different group. The African arowana is special because its mouth is at the very front of its head. It's also the only one that mostly eats tiny living things called plankton.
What Does the African Arowana Look Like?
The African arowana is a long fish with big scales. It has long fins on its back and belly, placed far back on its body. Its tail fin is rounded. This fish is about 3.5 to 5 times longer than it is tall.
It can grow up to 1 meter (about 3.3 feet) long. Some have been reported to weigh as much as 10.2 kilograms (about 22.5 pounds).
Adult African arowanas are usually gray, brown, or bronze all over. Young fish often have dark stripes running along their bodies.
These fish have special organs that help them breathe air. These organs are near their gills. This means they can live even in water that doesn't have much oxygen. They also have another special organ that helps them gather small plankton to eat. This organ can also sense things around them.
Where Do African Arowanas Live?
This fish is found all over Africa. It naturally lives in many river systems in the Sahelo-Sudanese region. This includes countries like Senegal and Gambia. It also lives in parts of eastern Africa.
You can find them in big rivers like the Volta, Niger, and Nile. They also live in lakes such as Lake Chad and Lake Turkana. People have also moved them to new places. These include Côte d'Ivoire and parts of Nigeria and Cameroon. They are also found in the lower and middle Congo River basin. Some have even been introduced to Madagascar. Sometimes, introducing them to new places can cause problems for the local environment.
How Do People Use African Arowanas?
African arowanas are often caught and eaten by people in the areas where they live. In the past, they were also collected for the aquarium trade. Unlike some of their relatives, they are not aggressive fish.
They are also raised in fish farms, a process called aquaculture. This is very successful because they can live well in crowded spaces. They are also easy to feed, which makes them a good choice for farming.
