Pirarucu: Monster of the Amazon
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A villager from the Medio Jurua nature reserve of Brazil's Amazon rainforest paddles in his canoe with pirarucus, the largest freshwater fish in South America, after a night of fishing in Manaria Lake, Carauari municipality, on Sept 3, 2012. -- PHOTO: REUTERS
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An aerial view of the Jurua River, a major tributary of the Amazon and one of the habitats of the Pirarucu, the largest freshwater fish in South America, on Sept 1, 2012. -- PHOTO: REUTERS
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Villagers from the Medio Jurua nature reserve of Brazil's Amazon rainforest head out to fish for pirarucu, the largest freshwater fish in South America, in their canoe for a night of fishing in Manaria Lake, in Carauari municipality, on Sept 2, 2012. -- PHOTO: REUTERS
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Villagers from the Medio Jurua nature reserve of Brazil's Amazon rainforest pull a pirarucu, the largest freshwater fish in South America, into their canoe during a night of fishing in Manaria Lake, Carauari municipality, on Sept 2, 2012. -- PHOTO: REUTERS
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Villagers from the Medio Jurua nature reserve of Brazil's Amazon rainforest pull a Yacare caiman out of their net as they fish for Pirarucu, the largest freshwater fish in South America, in Manaria Lake, in Carauari municipality, on Sept 2, 2012. -- PHOTO: REUTERS
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A villager from the Medio Jurua nature reserve of Brazil's Amazon rainforest uses a hammer to kill a pirarucu, the largest freshwater fish in South America, during a night of fishing in Manaria Lake, Carauari municipality, on Sept 2, 2012. -- PHOTO: REUTERS
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Villagers from the Medio Jurua nature reserve of Brazil's Amazon rainforest arrive with their catch of pirarucus, the largest freshwater fish in South America, after a night of fishing in Manaria Lake, Carauari municipality, on Sept 3, 2012. -- PHOTO: REUTERS
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Villagers from the Medio Jurua nature reserve of Brazil's Amazon rainforest fish for pirarucu, the largest freshwater fish in South America, in their canoe during a night of fishing in Manaria Lake, Carauari municipality, on Sept 2, 2012. -- PHOTO: REUTES
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Villagers from the Medio Jurua nature reserve of Brazil's Amazon rainforest hold up a gutted pirarucu, the largest freshwater fish in South America, after a night of fishing in Manaria Lake, in Carauari municipality, on Sept 3, 2012. -- PHOTO: REUTERS
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Villagers from the Medio Jurua nature reserve of Brazil's Amazon rainforest measure their catch of pirarucus, the largest freshwater fish in South America, after a night of fishing in Manaria Lake, Carauari municipality, on Sept 3, 2012. -- PHOTO: REUTERS
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Villagers from the Medio Jurua nature reserve of Brazil's Amazon rainforest arrive with their catch of pirarucu, the largest freshwater fish in South America, after a night of fishing in Manaria Lake, Carauari municipality, on Sept 3, 2012. -- PHOTO: REUTERS
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A villager from the Medio Jurua nature reserve of Brazil's Amazon rainforest crouches near pirarucus, the largest freshwater fish in South America, after a night of fishing in Manaria Lake, in Carauari municipality, on Sept 3, 2012. -- PHOTO: REUTERS
A villager from the Medio Jurua nature reserve of Brazil's Amazon rainforest paddles in his canoe with pirarucus, the largest freshwater fish in South America, after a night of fishing in Manaria Lake, Carauari municipality, on Sept 3, 2012. -- PHOTO: REUTERS
An aerial view of the Jurua River, a major tributary of the Amazon and one of the habitats of the Pirarucu, the largest freshwater fish in South America, on Sept 1, 2012. -- PHOTO: REUTERS
Villagers from the Medio Jurua nature reserve of Brazil's Amazon rainforest head out to fish for pirarucu, the largest freshwater fish in South America, in their canoe for a night of fishing in Manaria Lake, in Carauari municipality, on Sept 2, 2012. -- PHOTO: REUTERS
Villagers from the Medio Jurua nature reserve of Brazil's Amazon rainforest pull a pirarucu, the largest freshwater fish in South America, into their canoe during a night of fishing in Manaria Lake, Carauari municipality, on Sept 2, 2012. -- PHOTO: REUTERS
Villagers from the Medio Jurua nature reserve of Brazil's Amazon rainforest pull a Yacare caiman out of their net as they fish for Pirarucu, the largest freshwater fish in South America, in Manaria Lake, in Carauari municipality, on Sept 2, 2012. -- PHOTO: REUTERS
A villager from the Medio Jurua nature reserve of Brazil's Amazon rainforest uses a hammer to kill a pirarucu, the largest freshwater fish in South America, during a night of fishing in Manaria Lake, Carauari municipality, on Sept 2, 2012. -- PHOTO: REUTERS
Villagers from the Medio Jurua nature reserve of Brazil's Amazon rainforest arrive with their catch of pirarucus, the largest freshwater fish in South America, after a night of fishing in Manaria Lake, Carauari municipality, on Sept 3, 2012. -- PHOTO: REUTERS
Villagers from the Medio Jurua nature reserve of Brazil's Amazon rainforest fish for pirarucu, the largest freshwater fish in South America, in their canoe during a night of fishing in Manaria Lake, Carauari municipality, on Sept 2, 2012. -- PHOTO: REUTES
Villagers from the Medio Jurua nature reserve of Brazil's Amazon rainforest hold up a gutted pirarucu, the largest freshwater fish in South America, after a night of fishing in Manaria Lake, in Carauari municipality, on Sept 3, 2012. -- PHOTO: REUTERS
Villagers from the Medio Jurua nature reserve of Brazil's Amazon rainforest measure their catch of pirarucus, the largest freshwater fish in South America, after a night of fishing in Manaria Lake, Carauari municipality, on Sept 3, 2012. -- PHOTO: REUTERS
Villagers from the Medio Jurua nature reserve of Brazil's Amazon rainforest arrive with their catch of pirarucu, the largest freshwater fish in South America, after a night of fishing in Manaria Lake, Carauari municipality, on Sept 3, 2012. -- PHOTO: REUTERS
A villager from the Medio Jurua nature reserve of Brazil's Amazon rainforest crouches near pirarucus, the largest freshwater fish in South America, after a night of fishing in Manaria Lake, in Carauari municipality, on Sept 3, 2012. -- PHOTO: REUTERS
The pirarucu, also known as the arapaima, is South America’s largest freshwater fish. It is considered a living fossil, found in the region of the Jurua River, one of the most inhospitable, winding and virgin rivers in the Amazon Basin.
Here's a photo gallery, showcasing the ease with which villagers of the Medio Jurua nature hunt this mammoth creature.
