Arapaima Fishing, Amazon River, Brazil

Fossils of arapaima or a very similar species have been found in the Miocene Villavieja Formation of Colombia.
Importance to humans
The arapaima is hunted and utilized in many ways by local human populations. Arapaima are harpooned or caught in large nets, and the meat is said to be delicious. Since the arapaima needs to swim up to breathe air, traditional arapaima fishers often catch them by first harpooning them and then clubbing them dead. One individual can yield as much as 70 kg of meat.