Black arowana facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Black arowana |
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The black arowana (Osteoglossum ferreirai) is a cool freshwater fish from South America. It belongs to a group of fish called Osteoglossidae. These fish are sometimes kept in large aquariums, but they are hunters and need a lot of space! Black arowanas are quite common, but many are caught for food and for people who want them as pets.
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What's in a Name?
Why is it called ferreirai?
The second part of its scientific name, ferreirai, honors a Portuguese-Brazilian scientist named Alexandre Rodrigues Ferreira. He was the first person to tell the world about this amazing fish.
Where Do They Live?
Home in South America
The black arowana lives in warm parts of South America. You can find them mainly in the Rio Negro river basin, which includes the Branco River. In the 1970s, some black arowanas were also found in the Orinoco river. Scientists are still debating if they naturally live there or if humans brought them.
Their Favorite Spots
These fish usually stay in one place and don't travel far. They love living in "blackwater" rivers, which get their dark color from plants. During the dry season, they hang out in calm areas like small lagoons and tiny streams. But when the water levels rise, they often swim into flooded forests.
What Do They Look Like?
From Black to Steel Grey
The black arowana has a long body and a tail that gets thinner at the end. They usually grow to about 0.9 meters (3 feet) long, but some have been seen as big as 1.2 meters (4 feet)!
When they are young, black arowanas are black with bright yellow stripes along their body, head, and tail. But as they grow, usually when they reach about 15 centimeters (6 inches), these yellow marks disappear. Then, the fish turns a shiny dark steel grey or blue color. This is why they are called "black" arowanas! Their top, bottom, and tail fins also have cool yellow and red outlines.
Dragonfish?
Adult black arowanas look a lot like their cousins, the silver arowana (O. bicirrhosum). But scientists can tell them apart by counting certain body parts. Some fish lovers in Asia call arowanas "dragonfish" because of their unique look. They even believe these fish bring good luck!
How Do They Behave?
The "Water Monkey"
South American arowanas are sometimes called "water monkeys" or "monkey fish." Why? Because they can jump out of the water to catch their food! They usually swim close to the surface, always looking for a meal.
What's on the Menu?
While they have been known to eat bigger prey like small bats or even tiny monkeys, their main diet includes shrimp, insects, smaller fish, and other animals floating on the water. Their special mouth, which opens like a drawbridge, is perfect for scooping up food from the surface.
Family Life
Female black arowanas lay their eggs during the high water season. They can lay up to 210 eggs! The male fish then keeps the eggs safe in his mouth (this is called mouthbrooded). He only fully releases the young fish when they are about 7 centimeters (2.8 inches) long.
See also
- In Spanish: Arawana negra para niños
- Asian arowana
