# silver arowana (*Osteoglossum bicirrhosum*) The silver arowana is a beautiful fish with shiny scales that look like silver. It has a long body and can jump out of the water to catch its food, which makes it very special! - **Category:** [Fish](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/fish) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low - **Habitat:** Freshwater rivers and lakes ![silver arowana](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Osteoglossum_bicirrhosum.JPG&width=800) Photo: User:Qwertzy2, CC BY-SA 3.0 · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Osteoglossum_bicirrhosum.JPG) ## Appearance The silver arowana has a long, slender body covered in large, iridescent silver scales that shimmer like metal. Its distinctive upturned mouth, paired with two barbels, gives it a prehistoric, bony-tongued appearance. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Animalia - **Phylum:** Chordata - **Class:** Actinopterygii - **Order:** Osteoglossiformes - **Family:** Osteoglossidae - **Genus:** Osteoglossum ## Interesting facts - Arowanas carry their eggs in their mouth to protect them, a behavior called mouthbrooding! - These ancient fish have been around for millions of years, even since the time of dinosaurs. - They are sometimes called 'dragon fish' because of their large, shimmering scales. - Young silver arowanas sometimes have a yellowish-orange tint before turning entirely silver. ## Special abilities - **Leaping Strike:** silver arowana can jump out of the water to catch prey because it has powerful muscles and an upturned mouth for surface feeding. - **Breathe-Assist Bladder:** silver arowana can breathe air from the surface because it has a specialized swim bladder that acts like a lung. - **Surface Vision:** silver arowana has excellent eyesight that helps them spot insects and small animals on branches above the water. ## Measurements & details - **Length:** 60-90 cm - **Weight:** 2-6 kg - **Lifespan:** 10-20 years - **Swim Speed:** 20 km/h - **Maximum Depth:** 5 m - **Water Type:** Freshwater ## Diet & Feeding Arowanas are hungry hunters that eat many small animals found in and around the water. - **Age differences:** null - **Primary Foods:** insects, small fish, crustaceans, frogs - **Foraging Method:** Ambush ## Ecological connections - **Eaten by:** [Spectacled Caiman](https://www.snappit.app/explore/spectacled-caiman) (*Caiman crocodilus*) — Larger caimans sometimes prey on adult arowanas. - **Eaten by:** [Giant Otter](https://www.snappit.app/explore/giant-otter) (*Pteronura brasiliensis*) — Giant otters are skilled hunters of fish, including arowanas. - **Hunts:** Green Darner (*Anax junius*) — Arowanas leap to catch flying insects like dragonflies. - **Hunts:** Peacock Bass (*Cichla ocellaris*) — Arowanas hunt and consume smaller fish, including young peacock bass. ## Traits - [Solitary](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/solitary): Solitary animals live alone for most of their lives, only interacting with others for mating or parental care. - [Camouflaged](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/camouflaged): Camouflaged describes organisms that possess coloring or patterns that allow them to blend into their environment. - [Colorful](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/colorful): Colorful describes organisms or objects displaying a wide range of bright and distinct colors. - [Piscivorous](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/piscivorous): Piscivorous organisms are animals that primarily subsist on a diet of fish. - [Ancient Lineage](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/ancient-lineage): This trait signifies organisms belonging to a very old evolutionary group with ancestors dating back millions of years. - [Longevous](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/longevous): This trait characterizes organisms with an exceptionally long lifespan compared to others of their kind. - [Diurnal](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/diurnal): Diurnal animals are primarily active during daylight hours, typically resting or sleeping at night. - [Freshwater](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/freshwater): Freshwater habitats include non-saline aquatic environments such as rivers, lakes, ponds, and wetlands, vital for numerous species. - [Speedster](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/speedster): This trait identifies organisms that exhibit exceptional swiftness in movement for hunting, escape, or travel. ## Collections - [Fish](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/fish) ## Safety **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low Always watch fish from a safe distance and never try to touch them in the water. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify silver arowana? Look at body shape, where the fins sit and their outline, mouth position, stripes and spots. Young fish and breeding adults can wear different patterns, and aquarium color varieties can look nothing like wild fish. Fish Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details. ### How long is silver arowana? 60-90 cm ### How much does silver arowana weigh? 2-6 kg ### How long does silver arowana live? 10-20 years ### What does silver arowana eat? Arowanas are hungry hunters that eat many small animals found in and around the water. ### How fast can silver arowana swim? 20 km/h ### Where is silver arowana usually found? Freshwater rivers and lakes ### How does silver arowana hunt? Ambush ## More Fish - [Rainbow Trout](https://www.snappit.app/explore/rainbow-trout) (*Oncorhynchus mykiss*) - [Brown Trout](https://www.snappit.app/explore/brown-trout) (*Salmo trutta*) - [Brook Trout](https://www.snappit.app/explore/brook-trout) (*Salvelinus fontinalis*) - [Lake Trout](https://www.snappit.app/explore/lake-trout) (*Salvelinus namaycush*) --- Source: [Silver Arowana: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/silver-arowana)