Arowanas are freshwater bony fish of the family Osteoglossidae, also known as bony tongues (the latter name is now often reserved for Arapaimidae). In this family of fish, the head is bony and the elongated body is covered by large, heavy scales, with a mosaic pattern of canals. The dorsal and anal fins have soft rays and are long based, while the pectoral and ventral fins are small. The name "bonytongues" is derived from a toothed bone on the floor of the mouth, the "tongue", equipped with teeth that bite against teeth on the roof of the mouth. The arowana is a facultative air breather and can obtain oxygen from air by sucking it into its swim bladder, which is lined with capillaries like lung tissue. Learn more about Arowana
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Arowana Species Videos
Common Name | Scientific Name | Conservation Status |
Arowana (3 videos) | Osteoglossum bicirrhosum | Not Available |
Callionymus Io (29 videos) | Callionymus io | Not Available |
Common Dragonet (29 videos) | Callionymus lyra | Not Available |
Dragonfish (45 videos) | Astronesthes macropogon | Not Available |
Fingered Dragonet (56 videos) | Dactylopus dactylopus | Not Available |
Leafy Sea Dragon (475 videos) | Phycodurus eques | Least concern |
Mandarinfish (71 videos) | Synchiropus splendidus | Not Available |
Morrison's Dragonet (8 videos) | Synchiropus morrisoni | Not Available |
Ocellated Dragonet (2 videos) | Synchiropus ocellatus | Not Available |
Orange-black Dragonet (23 videos) | Dactylopus kuiteri | Not Available |
Short Dragonfish (56 videos) | Eurypegasus draconis | Least concern |
Weedy Sea Dragon (154 videos) | Phyllopteryx taeniolatus | Least concern |