About Osteoglossum bicirrhosum (Cuvier, 1829)
This fish, known as the silver arowana, has relatively large scales, a long body, and a tapered tail. Its dorsal and anal fins extend all the way to the small caudal fin, and are nearly fused with it. While its maximum total length is typically considered to be 0.9 m (3.0 ft), there are reports of individuals reaching up to 1.2 m (3.9 ft). Unlike the black arowana, the silver arowana retains the same coloring throughout its entire lifespan. Adults of these two species are very similar in appearance, but can be distinguished by meristics. Aquarists sometimes call arowanas 'dragon fish', because their shiny, armor-like scales and double barbels are reminiscent of dragon descriptions in East Asian folklore. This is a South American species native to the Amazon, Essequibo, and Oyapock basins. It is absent from the Rio Negro basin, with the exception of the Branco River, which is home to both silver and black arowanas. The silver arowana lives in both blackwater and whitewater habitats, including flooded forests.
