The Legend:
Whispers of the Amazon
Amazonian Creation Myths:
Beyond its impressive size and importance as a food source, the arapaima holds a significant place in the folklore and creation stories of numerous indigenous Amazonian communities.
There are many accounts of the arapaima’s role in such stories. Perhaps the most well-known one tells of a fierce and cruel warrior named Pirarucu. He was arrogant and used his power to torment his own people, even killing them without reason.
Pirarucu also disrespected the gods, who soon grew tired of his behaviour. The god of lightning, Polo, and the goddess of torrents, Lururaruaçú, unleashed a storm upon Pirarucu while he was fishing, but Pirarucu remained defiant. Enraged, the supreme deity Tupã called upon Xandoré, a demon, who struck Pirarucu’s heart with lightning. Instead of killing him, Pirarucu was transformed into a giant, dull-coloured fish, sinking to the seabed of the Tocantins River. He remained there, a terrifying sight and a reminder of the consequences of his cruelty. This myth serves as a moral lesson about respect for others and the divine to this day.
Some Amazonian cultures believe the arapaima to have a very close, even ancestral, relationship with humans. One suggests that people and arapaima came from the same ancestors, highlighting a deep cultural connection and reverence for the fish, seeing it not just as a resource but as a kin. This belief contributes to the traditional management practices and respect for the arapaima, where it might be considered taboo or revered as the “Mother of all Fishes.”
Thus, the arapaima, with its immense size and unique characteristics (eg, its air-breathing ability), became a powerful symbol and a central figure in shaping the worldview and cultural identity of the Amazonian indigenous peoples.
As seen in the “Legend of Pirarucu,” the arapaima often features prominently in creation myths, explaining the origins of their world or serving as cautionary tales about human behavior. Its prehistoric appearance, massive size, and air-breathing ability have likely inspired its association with powerful beings or transformations. Such stories are passed down through generations, reinforcing cultural values and connection to the natural world.
The arapaima’s resilience (surviving in low-oxygen waters), power, majestic appearance, and its indestructible nature (eg, armour-like scales that protect against Piranha) make it a potent symbol of strength, adaptability, and the richness of the Amazonian ecosystem. It represents the life-giving essence of the rivers and the abundance of nature.
Cultural Identity:
For many communities, the arapaima is an integral part of their identity. The historical relationship with the fish, coupled with traditional hunting and fishing methods, knowledge of its behavior, and the stories associated with it, helps define who they are as a people.
Role in Indigenous Rituals:
While specific rituals vary widely between different indigenous groups, the arapaima’s significance can show up in several ways:
Due to its importance, some cultures historically imposed taboos on its consumption or harvesting, limiting its use to sporadic or ritualistic occasions.
Arapaima are involved in spiritual practices or ceremonies. This could involve seeking its blessing for a successful hunt, acknowledging its role in maintaining ecological balance, or even seeking permission from the spirits of the animal to enter their territory safely.
Beyond its meat, parts of the arapaima have been traditionally used for medicinal purposes. For instance, its bony tongue is believed to have medicinal qualities. It is dried and combined with guarana bark to make a medication used for killing intestinal worms.
The scales and bones of the arapaima can be used in the creation of traditional tools, adornments, or ritualistic objects, further embedding it in the material culture of the communities. Its bony tongue has a further use and is known to be used as a scraper!
Impact on Daily Life:
The arapaima has been a primary source of protein for local communities due to its large size and palatable meat. Its ability to survive in oxygen-depleted waters and its habit of surfacing for air made it a relatively accessible and reliable food source, especially during dry seasons when other fish might be conspicuous. Communities will also salt and dry the flesh for long-term storage, which is crucial in a region with limited refrigeration.
Surplus arapaima caught by communities could be traded or sold, contributing to their economic well-being.
Living alongside the arapaima for thousands of years has given indigenous peoples an intimate knowledge of its life cycle, habits, and habitats. This deep understanding is crucial for both traditional hunting and modern conservation efforts. The arapaima’s dependence on seasonal flooding means that these communities have adapted their lives and fishing practices to the rhythms of the Amazonian rivers.
The arapaima is not just a fish; it is a fundamental part of the Amazonian indigenous worldview, deeply intertwined with their spirituality, traditions, sustenance, and resilience.
Origins & Evolution:
Here’s the visual timeline for the Arapaima’s evolution, with the millions of years marked:
This timeline illustrates:
Ancient Fish Ancestors (Approx. 400 Million Years Ago – Devonian Period): The very distant origins of bony fish, from which Arapaima’s lineage eventually diverged.
Early Teleosts (Approx. 200 Million Years Ago – Triassic Period): The emergence of teleosts, the most diverse group of ray-finned fish, to which Arapaima belongs.
Arapaima-like Ancestors (Approx. 23 Million Years Ago – Miocene Epoch): This is when the earliest definitive Arapaima or very closely related fossil species appear in the fossil record, notably from the Villavieja Formation in Colombia.
Modern Arapaima (Present Day): The continuation of the lineage, with multiple recognized species existing today.
Arapaima: This is the common English name for the fish. Its origin is believed to be from a Tupi word, but a direct meaning isn’t as widely cited as for “Pirarucu.”
Pirarucu: This is the Portuguese name for the fish, widely used in Brazil. It originates from the Tupi language words, meaning “Red Fish”. This name is due to the reddish marks often seen towards the tail-end of the fish, particularly in males during mating season when their colours intensify.
Other Local Names include Paiche, a name commonly used in Peru and Ecuador, and in some other regions, you might also hear “Wararapaima,” “Giant bony tongue,” or even “Amazon codfish” due to its culinary use and the quality of its flesh.