#paiche

[bethanythebogwitch]

It's big, it's strong, its scaly, it's this week's Wet Beast Wednesday topic! An arapaima, also known as a pirarucu or paiche, is any of four species of fish in the genus Arapaima in the order of bony-tongued fish. There is som ongoing debate about the classification of the species, so to keep thing simple, I'm going to use the most common species names of Arapaima gigas (the type species and most well known, and the one with the most confusion about its classification), Arapaima agassizii, Arapaima leptosoma, and Arapaima mapae. Because A. gigas is the most well-studied of the species, unless I say otherwise you can assume everything I say in this post applies to it.

(image: an arapaima)

Arapaimas are bony fish that retain several primitive traits, causing them to sometimes be identified as "living fossils". They are most notable for their size, with A. gigas being a contender for the largest freshwater fish in the world. The maximum recorded size for one was 3.7 meters (10 ft) and 200 kg (400 lbs), but most get to around 2 meters (6.6 ft) long and 200 kg (440 lbs). That average length is decreasing as overfishing of the largest individuals is resulting in a selective pressure for smaller sizes. In addition to their size, they are extremely strong and can move fast if needed. Arapaima are fully capable of leaping out of the water if disturbed or they feel their current pond in unsuitable. Because of their strength, specimens in captivity must be handled with care as they can easy break bones if they slap someone. They live in rivers and lakes in South America, where they are often the top predators.

(image: several anglers with an arapaima)

Arapaimas are obligate air-breathers and will drown if they can't get to the surface to breathe. This is accomplished with a specialized swim bladder. The swim bladder is filled with highly vascularized tissue, letting it act like a lung. This pseudo-lung opens into the mouth using a modified gill arch known as the labyrinth organ. Arapaima gills are too small to sustain them, but they can supplement their oxygen intake with the gills. Juveniles are born exclusively using their gills and transition into air-breathers shortly after hatching. Arapaimas can survive up to a full day out of the water. They typically surface to gulp in air every 15-20 minutes. Breathing makes a loud gulping sound that anglers use to target them.

(image: an arapaima at the surface)

Because of their ability to breathe air, arapaimas are top predators in low-oxygen environments. Non-air breathing fish are forced to slow down in water with low levels of dissolved oxygen as they can't get enough oxygen through their gills. Since Arapaimas breathe air, they can easily chase down lethargic smaller fish. They are especially potent predators during the low season, when water levels lower. A combination of rotting vegetation reducing oxygen levels and ponds getting cut off from rivers and losing a supply of oxygen lets the arapaima reign supreme. Arapaimas are primarily predators that feed on smaller fish, though they will hunt other types of animals and eat fruits and seeds. Even land animals aren't safe as arapaimas have been known to launch themselves out of the water to catch animals near the shore. A combination of sharp teeth and their bony tongues are used to debilitate prey.

(image: an arapaima with its mouth open)

Not content with powerleveling their attack stat, arapaimas also have excellent defense. Their scales have been compared to bullet proof vests. Each has a hard, mineralized outer layer over multiple layers of collagen fibers. These layers are all oriented at an angle to each other to provide extra strength. This orientation of layers is called a Bouligand-type arrangement and is similar to how plywood is assembled. The harder outer layers and flexible inner layers work together to allow for both strength and flexibility. These scales help provide protection form large predators such as caiman and small threats like biting piranha. They also like provide protection from other arapaima, as the fish are aggressive and will fight each other.

(image: a diagram showing the composition of arapaima scales. source)

You probably wouldn't expect a swimming tank of an animal to be a good parent, but you'd be wrong. Arapaimas work together in mated pairs to build nests for their eggs, then cooperate to guard the nest. Once the eggs hatch, the male will practice mouth brooding, keeping his young safe in his mouth. The female will also help by patrolling the area around the male to ward off predators. They secrete pheromones from their heads to ensure the young don't swim too far away. Eggs are laid either in in the low season or as water levels are starting to rise, ensuring that the young become independent during the high season.

(Image: baby arapaimas)

Arapaima are classified as "data deficient" by the IUCN. This means there isn't enough data to properly assess their conservation needs. They are known to be threatened by overfishing. Arapaima make up a large part of the diet of many South American populations. Habitat loss and pollution are also believed to threaten them. They have been introduced to many areas out of their native range and are an invasive species in placed like Florida, Malaysia, and India.

Does anyone else remember these cards? (image: the arapaima card from Weird n' Wild Creatures)

#wet beast wednesday #fishblr #fish #biology #zoology #ecology #animals #aquatic biology #animal facts #absolute unit #arapaima #pirarucu #paiche

[foodtastersperu]

“LIMO” probablemente la mejor opción de comida japonesa en la ciudad de Cuzco, está en plena plaza al lado de la catedral, esta vez picamos variado pero el paiche de fondo estuvo de lujo!!!

#limo #cuzco #peru #Foodtaster #foodtasters #foodtastersperu #peruvianfoodtasters #paiche #sushi #nigiri

[naumovskidusan]

"Arapaima Gigas Monster fish For EXTREME FISHING Pirarucu Paiche" by Olivera Pavlovic Naumovski on INPRNT

#art #print #illustration #artist #olivera pavlovic naumovski #fish #nature #river #monster #amazon #underwater #fishing #animal #extreme #marine #aquarium #fisherman #arapaima #pirarucu #paiche #angling #inprnt

[mizelaneus]

#paiche

[running-in-the-dark]

I'm currently downloading some Mel Tormé albums (yes obviously it's entirely because of Night Court) and he has an album with Marty Paich (the father of David Paich (of Toto)), how interesting

#not really that interesting but. it's toto related so unfortunately I do find it interesting #marty paich also worked on the album before that one. interesting! #I'm always like oh advertising doesn't work on me (which isn't true anyways) but harry stone is so obsessed with this man that I'm like 🤷 #okay fine guess I'll listen to that #very effective! #literally had never even heard of him before watching night court #(it's actually a lot more than just those two albums. and I just accidentally downloaded his entire discography. had to get a new #deezer trial for it and everything lol why do I even care :') ) #personal

[prominentmen]

TOTO, September 27, 1982 - Amsterdam.

#toto #mike porcaro #steve lukather #david paich #jeff porcaro #steve porcaro #1982

[jazzplusplus]

#jazz #big band #mel tormé #marty paich #1988

[kyunisixx]

TOTO Live at the Agora Ballroom, Cleveland - 1979 (Part 2/2)

#toto #toto band #bobby kimball #david paich #steve porcaro #jeff porcaro #steve lukather #classic rock #70s

[wanderinstar]

TOTO – Waiting For Your Love (♫)

#toto #m #toto band #one of my fave toto songs and one of my fave mvs ever #the energy here is impeccable #jeff porcaro #mike porcaro #steve porcaro #steve lukather #bobby kimball #david paich

[dadrockconfessions]

#confession #confessions #toto #jeff porcaro #steve lukather #steve porcaro #david paich #bobby kimball #david hungate #u get 1979 Toto

[mymindlostmefan]

david paich - toto

born 25.06.1954

#david paich #toto

[zerodaryls]

Toto in the music video for Pamela

#Toto #Toto band #David Paich #Joseph Williams #Steve Lukather #Jeff Porcaro #Mike Porcaro #idk where Steve P is :/ #he must have left by then even tho he's credited for synth on this track #my posts #my gifs #that's the last of the Toto gifs that were sitting around on my laptop lol #all done :) #for now >:}

[jeffcbliss]

David Paich of Toto - Acrisure Arena; Thousand Palms, CA (4-25-23). #DavidPaich @toto99com

Photo: Jeff Bliss

#david paich #toto #keyboardist #pianist #singer songwriter #musician #music #vocalist #rock shots #rock photography #rock and roll #concert photography #concert #reflection #thousand palms #acrisure arena #co founder #emmy winner #grammy winner #concert photo

[c-40]

A-T-3 062 Toto - Africa

I don't particularly like Africa by Toto but it reminds me of my sister and I like that. My sister used to play it in the mid to late 1990s at a club called 333 in London, England. Africa took a while to become a hit. It was released in 1982 the same year as its parent album Toto IV but didn't chart in the UK until January 1983 with the help of a music video. Once it became a hit it went stratospheric. When my sister was playing it at the 333 it had fallen out of fashion, it had become irrelevant, these were the days of jungle/drum and bass, UK garage, big beat, new disco... lots of heavy electronic dance music. My sister really likes Africa by Toto so that's what she played, and Supertramp, and Fleetwood Mac (again having a dip in their popularity), and Steely Dan... and the people that saw her play at the 333 loved it. Of course Toto's Africa has become very popular since the late 2000s, and musical atrophy has helped Africa become relevant again

I thought I'd post Toto now as Cheryl Lynn came up the other yesterday and Toto helped kick start her career

Africa it a bit of a problematic song. Co-writer Jeff Porcaro has talked about it as "A white boy is trying to write a song on Africa, but since he's never been there, he can only tell what he's seen on TV or remembers in the past" and descriptions were drawn from the pages of National Geographic and David Paich's memory of stories Catholic priest told him at school about their missionary work in Africa. Paich has said he based the lyrics on a late night documentary with depictions of African plight and suffering "It both moved and appalled me, and the pictures just wouldn't leave my head. I tried to imagine how I'd feel about it if I was there and what I'd do." We were entering the time rock stars arrogantly believed they had the power to change the world (like Bill And Ted), the result is clumsy and patronising (maybe not quite as bad as Band Aid's Do The Know It's Christmas Time)

It like the opening drums of the song, I'm sure Quiet Village have lifted them. As a kid I loved Joe Spencer's sleeve artwork for Toto IV with it's airbrushed rings and sword (he also did Rick James' Stone City Band logo)

#1983 #toto #jeff porcaro #david paich #soft rock #aor #pop rock #california #usa #80s music

[myvinylplaylist]

Toto: Toto IV (1982)

Columbia Records

#my vinyl playlist #toto band #david hungate #bobby kimball #steve lukather #david paich #jeff porcaro #steve porcaro #columbia records #pop rock #80’s music #classic rock #record cover #album cover #album art #vinyl records

[prominentmen]

The 26th Annual Grammy Awards, hosted by John Denver, with presenters such as Stevie Wonder, Bob Dylan and TOTO, and performances by Chuck Berry and others. Michael Jackson and Quincy Jones won 8 grammies for Thriller that night, of which TOTO members partially co-wrote and played on as well.

#grammys #michael jackson #quincy jones #toto #jeff porcaro #steve porcaro #mike porcaro #steve lukather #david paich #bob dylan #stevie wonder #chuck berry