The Giant Fish Pirarucu Makes A Comeback

Okay here is your science lesson for today. You have probably never heard of a pirarucu. Well, since it is one of the largest freshwater fish in the world it's time for you to learn. Native to Lake Santo Antonio in northwestern Brazil, fishing for the pirarucu has been banned for the last three years to allow the species to reproduce and grow. It must have worked. With the recent lifting of the ban, fishermen caught 19 pirarucu in five days; a total catch weighing in at 980 kilograms, just slightly within the regulated limit.

More about the pirarucu:
It can grow up to 10 ft long and weighs around 400 lb. This size is small compared to the documented size about 100 years ago which was 15 ft (4.6 m). This fish has a flat bony head, followed by an elongated body which is scaly. Its tail is short and stumpy. The color of this fish is begins with a copperish green at the head then to a darker blue-green which fades at the white belly. The fins at the edge of the tail are a reddish color. The pirarucu is an air breather and is one of the most sought after food fish in South America.