Arapaima gigas

Arapaima gigas
	Beijing Aquarium, China
Conservation status
	; Data Deficient (IUCN 2.3)
	CITES Appendix II (CITES)
Scientific classification
Domain:	Eukaryota
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Actinopterygii
Order:	Osteoglossiformes
Family:	Osteoglossidae
Genus:	Arapaima
Species:	A. gigas
Binomial name
	Arapaima gigas; (Schinz, 1822)
Synonyms
	Sudis gigas Schinz, 1822; Sudis gigas G. Cuvier, 1829 (ambiguous); Arapaima gigas (G. Cuvier, 1829) (ambiguous); Sudis pirarucu Spix & Agassiz, 1829 (ambiguous); Vastres mapae Valenciennes, 1847; Vastres cuvieri Valenciennes, 1847; Vastres agassizii Valenciennes, 1847; Vastres arapaima Valenciennes, 1847;

Arapaima gigas, also known as pirarucu or simply arapaima, is a species of arapaima native to the basin of the Amazon River. Once believed to be the sole species in the genus, it is among the largest freshwater fish. The species is an obligate air breather, so it needs to come to the surface regularly to breathe air.

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