Animal Guide

Black Arowana

1 destination · 1 state

Native Range: South America, especially the Rio Negro and surrounding Amazon Basin waters

The black arowana is a surface hunter with a look that can change noticeably as it grows. Young fish are often much darker and more boldly marked than adults, with contrasting yellowish or reddish tones that make them especially striking to watch. Their long bodies stay close to the water's surface, where an upturned mouth helps them pick off insects, small fish, and other prey. Spend a few minutes watching one and you may see it hover almost motionless before suddenly accelerating toward food. Arowanas are also powerful jumpers, capable of launching from the water to snatch prey from low vegetation. That behavior helps explain their unusual surface-oriented body shape. Like other arowanas, the black arowana can gulp air at the surface, an adaptation useful in warm waters where oxygen levels can be low. At an aquarium, its slow cruising and sudden bursts of movement make it worth watching for more than just its dark, distinctive appearance.

Where to see Black Arowana

1 destination across 1 state

1 destination

Shedd Aquarium

Chicago, IL

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