Category Archives: Fishes

Pirarucu are fresh-water fish found in the Amazon and other rivers of northern South America. They are among the largest freshwater fish in the world. A big pirarucu may weigh two hundred pounds and be seven feet long. Their name comes from the Portuguese “pira” meaning fish, and “rucu” meaning red. Actually their large scales … Continue reading

It  is thought that some fishes of the depths make frequent excursions to the surface of the water at night, going down again at daybreak to the depths, which they light up feebly with their light-producing organs, or photophores. And so fishermen will sometimes find, in a squirming mass of silvery sardines, mackerel or other … Continue reading