It's another name of the pirarucú or paiche. It is a giant fish from the Amazon basin and of rare appearance (prehistoric appearance). It is also called arawana. Fossils dating from the Miocene have been found in Colombia. Name of a genus of species, consisting of 4 species and belonging to the family Arapaimidae. There are 4 species in South America: Arapaima agassizzi , Arapaima gigas , Arapaima leptosoma and Arapaima mapae .