Arowana
The Arowana: A Jewel of the Amazon with Hidden Talents
The Arowana, a member of the Osteoglossidae family alongside the Arapaima, boasts a truly prehistoric look. Nicknamed the "bony tongue Arowana" for a reason, this fish has a unique anatomy. Imagine an elongated body with a tiny tail, covered in massive, glistening scales. A huge trapdoor mouth completes this impressive picture. Arowana can reach weights of up to 15 pounds.
These topwater dwellers are a thrill for anglers. They readily strike smaller topwater lures, and even plastic frogs can entice them. Arowana are incredibly acrobatic fighters, known to even swim backward when making a desperate escape. But their oddities don't stop there. Just like the Arapaima, their tongue is lined with teeth, which meet opposing teeth on the roof of their mouth for a powerful grip.
They tend to gang up in quiet lagoons and under overhanging trees in the shade. Arowana are often seen jumping in the trees (hence the name Monkey Fish) to catch birds, insects, small rodents and even snakes and lizards. These fish hit topwater lures with abandon and can also be caught on flies, jigs and minnowbaits.
Another fascinating adaptation allows them to survive in low-oxygen environments. Similar to the Arapaima, Arowana can gulp air and absorb oxygen through a swim bladder lined with capillaries, much like lung tissue, when in oxygen-depleted water. This ability makes them resilient fish, perfectly suited for the Amazon's diverse waters and hidden lagoons. They are also mouth-brooders, keeping their young fry inside their mouths in times of trouble.
