5 types of fish often called as the 'Dragon fish'

Often many people call a dragon fish from its physical characteristics. The fish does have some distinctive characteristics of a dragon.

Here are 5 types of fish are often called dragon fish:

1. Palmas fish

Palmas fish, a fish included to the Family Polypteridae (Bichir), it means a lot finned fish. Palmas fish is called dragon fish because it is physically similar to the dragon in Chinese legend.

Palmas fish (tiger delhezi). (Picture from: http://bit.ly/1QKniCr)

These fish include primitive fish and often referred to as "snake like fish". The spread of these fish are in West Africa. Palmas fish are predatory fish, Carnivora. Then the fish has the ability to take the air with an organ that has been modified in such a way to resemble the lungs, besides that it was able to creep on the ground by using a strong chest fins.

2. Axolotl

Axolotl (Ambystoma mexicanum) is a type of salamander who spent his life in the form of larvae. This unique exotic animals sometimes referred to as "Mexican Walking Fish" because it looks like a fish that has the hands and feet. However, Axolotl is not actually a kind of fish, but a type of salamander found in Mexico City. The body length of Axolotl can reach 30 cm, but the average size of only 15 cm.

Axolotl (Ambystoma mexicanum). (Picture from: http://bit.ly/1FCMN8w)

Their body color are black or brown and average more albino with pink. These funny animal has gills that are outside its body. Gills seems to be on the side of its head so that at first glance looks like a horn.

Eastern people often create a fantasy that is associated with the dragon legend, so they are often referred to as a dragon fish. Axolotl is one animal that has longevity, Axolotl can live up to 10-15 years and can grow up to 60 cm.

In fact, there were ever caught a giant Axolotl in the interior of Mexico that has a body length of up to 1.4 meters, the discovery was really shocking, but after carefully studied by experts that only abnormal rare situations (gigantism).

3. Arowana

Arowana including the "ancestor" fish families, ie fish families Osteoglasidae or "bony-tongue," because the base of the mouth in the form of bone that serves as the teeth. Arowana have various nicknames, such as: Ikan naga (Dragon Fish), Barramundi, Saratoga, PlaTapad, indolent, Siluk, Kayangan, Peyang, Tangkelese, Aruwana, or Arowana, depending on its place.

Arowana. (Picture from: http://bit.ly/1YNMrSP)

The shape and appearance arowana is including a gorgeous and unique. Its body elongated, slender, and "stream line", with swimming movements are very graceful. Arowana in nature have a variety of colors such as green, silver, or red. At the lower lip there are two antennae that serve as a vibration sensor to determine the position of prey on the water surface.

In nature they swim near the water surface to hunt for prey. Arowana can accept all types of feed for carnivorous fish, but often they are so very fond of one type of feed only, and reject other types.

4. Arapaima 
These fish include close relatives with arowana, the Amazon arapaima which is sometimes regarded as the largest freshwater fish in the world. According to the initial description, this fish can grow up to 4.5 meters in length, but now, individuals are very big like this is rare and the average adult arapaima found that only 2 meter length.

Arapaima. (Picture from: http://bit.ly/1KK8uCz)

The slow-moving predators and eat small fish, and anything that small could fit their mouth. An interesting feature of this fish is that they need the oxygen from the air, in order to survive. Arapaimas harmless to humans and are often hunted for their meat, unfortunately, they are very rare nowadays. Although arapaima seem to appear in the Miocene, but they get much older relatives, namely Osteoglossidae, and its origins can be traced back to the age of dinosaurs.

5. Oarfish

Oarfish include to the family Regalecidae which has four species. One of the species Regalecus Glesne, ever get into the Guinness Book of World Records since been found in living conditions with a body length of up to 11 meters (36 feet).

This fish has a single fin is red and includes fish loner. But when these fish are sick or dying, it looks like the loner does not want to die in loneliness. So it went up to the sea surface and survived there until the death. Perhaps to draw the attention of the sailors, or just want to look at the sun for the last time.

The sailors of the past may have seen this fish on the surface and perceive it as a sea monster. For example, in 1860, when a 5-meter long Oarfish beached in Bermuda, the residents immediately linked with the legendary sea monster. Some scientists believe that it is likely there an Oarfish whose size exceeds 11 meters, but until now no one has proved it. *** [EKA | FROM VARIOUS SOURCES | ]

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