An Amazonian arapaima washed up in a Florida river. It didn't swim there - Mongabay.com
An Amazonian arapaima washed up in a Florida river. It didn't swim there - Mongabay.com An Amazonian arapaima washed up in a Florida river. It didn't swim there - Mongabay.com Posted: 09 Apr 2021 12:00 AM PDT In February, Florida officials identified the body of an arapaima (Arapaima gigas) that had washed ashore from the Caloosahatchee River. An expert said the arapaima, a fish species endemic to the Amazon lowlands, had likely come from the pet trade. Live arapaimas are mainly brought into the U.S. for aquaculture, although a small number are also imported for the pet trade, another expert said. While arapaimas are not currently considered to be an invasive species, there are concerns they could become problematic in the future if enough end up in Florida's waterways. It's been called a "river monster," and for good reason. The arapaima ( Arapaima gigas ) is a freshwater fish that can grow longer