A108_1616

Two heroes
The arapaimaPirarucu – (Arapaima gigas) – from the Tupi piraru’ku, red fish). The largest Brazilian scaled fresh water fish and possibly the largest in the world. This fish is very tasty, rivaling cod. Almost boneless, (only backbone and ribs), it is a meaty fish and is separated into two large flaps which, salted and dried in the sun, are sold at the open-air markets, exported and even smuggled. It is widely consumed by the populace and in hotels. It is also eaten fresh, fried, baked, and in the form of fish croquettes. Its bony tongue is used to grate the guaraná cake. Its scales are used as exotic, but very efficient nail files, and are also used to make hand crafted products. (Arapaima gigas) lives in Amazonian lakes, generally in poor oxygen water. That is why the arapaima has a rudimentary respiratory apparatus that allows him to supplement the oxygen in the water with the oxygen in the air. At dawn, when the surface of the lake becomes a perfectly flat mirror, the riverine observes the surface and, at some point, the arapaima reveals the location of its nest, when it rises to breathe. In the next breath, about seven minutes, the fish will have someone waiting for it. It’s a decisive moment, between surviving or becoming a salt fish on the market stall. Will the fisherman rejoice in the accuracy of his aim? Will him gives thanks for the food that will brighten his family’s table?
Or will the other hero of the story deflect the deadly harpoon at the last moment? Did he already know about that shadow over the water surface? Did he notices the slight but traitorous thump of the oar on the edge of the canoeThe canoe is a small boat, narrow and light, and daringly close to the waterline. With both sharp ends, it is operated by a wooden oar, but in the absence of an oar, the riverine can uses any piece of wood or even a branch. It is considered the most used means of transport by riverside and indigenous people in the rivers of the Amazon.? surely, he has learned a precious skill that betrays him back to deep water.
So the two, the predator and the prey, dance together in their attempts to improve, resorting to each other.
I was rooting for the fish, but I saw that this is not fair. It is the dance of life that leads us, the living beings, we just choose whether the dance step goes left or right, down or up. And clearly, this results in two different types of dancing.
Captured or not captured?
Did you become fish or did you learn another lesson?

A108_1616 – Leonide Principe
Equipment: NIKON D2X with lens 300.0 mm f/2.8 set at 300 mm – Exposition: ISO: 100 – Aperture: 4.5 – Shutter: 1/200 – Program: Manual – Exp. Comp.: -0.7,
Original digital capture of a real life scene –
Original file size: 4312px x 2868px
Location: Rio Preto da Eva (Itacoatiara – Amazonas Brazil)
Date: May 9, 2010 – Time: 5:53:23 PM
Collection: Fishes – Persons shown: none
Keywords:
pirarucu, Arapaima gigas, peixes, fishes, FAUNA, animals, paraná do Ariaú, Ariau paranaParana – (from the Tupi para’ ná, similar to the sea). The branch of a river that feeds water back into the same river downstream or into another river.  Paranás occur frequently In the Amazon Basin and many of them are densely populated.  , Iranduba, Amazonas, Amazônia, Amazon, Amazonian, Brazil, Brasil, Brazilian, América do Sul, South America
EN1 Two heroes A108_1616
PT1 Dois heróis A108_1616
© – Leonide Principe, all right reserved
https://leonideprincipe.photos

P15_352

In a small lake
Arapaima (Arapaima gigas)
It was a small lake less than 1 meter deep. The owner of the area raised two arapaima into this lake, he fished the piabas (small fishes) in the large lake and took them alive to release as food for his pet fish. The owner arrived at the edge of the pond and beat a half-submerged log with a stick. Soon its noble residents answered the call and approached… I took many surface photos, but I had a great desire to dive and meet the arapaima face to face. So it was.

P15_352 – Leonide Principe
Camera Nikonos IV with 35mm f2.8 – Diapositive Film Fujichrome Velvia 50 – Scanner: Nikon SUPER COOLSCAN 5000 ED
Digitised from a positive on film –
Original file size: 5175px x 3480px
Location Taken: Rio Preto da Eva (Itacoatiara – Amazonas Brazil)
Date Taken: 1991
Collection: Fishes – Persons shown: none
Keywords:
pirarucu, Arapaima gigas, peixes, fishes, FAUNA, animals, Itacoatiara, Amazonas, Amazônia, Amazon, Amazonian, Brazil, Brasil, Brazilian, América do Sul, South America, Rio Preto da Eva, NFT
EN2 In a small lake P15_352
PT2 Numa pequena lagoa P15_352
© – Leonide Principe, all right reserved
https://leonideprincipe.photos

P15_350

Cold-blooded animal
I used to think of fish as cold-blooded animals, almost like machines, perfectly placed on a tray, roasted, with a side of potatoes. At least that’s what I was taught in school. And we, humans, warm-blooded beings, the noble part of creation, have thoughts, feelings, free will… what a privilege!
But when we step down from the pedestal we created for ourselves, the world becomes more interesting. What was once pure egocentric masturbation becomes a wealth of surprising relationships. There is life! There is so much life around me! As the Mayans used to say, “in all our relations.” I observe the two fish in the small pond, they intertwine and show off, they are the owner of the land’s family, now they are my friends, and I am amazed by them and their biology, which is so different.
My personal experience with nature strives to find more just relationships… Mitakuye OyasinMitakuye Oyasin is a traditional prayer of the Lakota tribe, with its opening phrase used as a refrain in many other Lakota prayers and songs. It reflects the belief inherent in most Native American traditions that everything is interconnected. Source: Wikipedia!

P15_350 – Leonide Principe
Camera Nikon F5 with Nikkor lens 80-200mm f2.8 – Diapositive Film Fujichrome Velvia 50 – Scanner: Nikon SUPER COOLSCAN 5000 ED
Digitised from a positive on film –
Original file size: 5243px x 3473px
Location Taken: Rio Preto da Eva (Itacoatiara – Amazonas Brazil)
Date Taken: 1997
Collection: Fishes – Persons shown: none
Keywords:
pirarucu, Arapaima gigas, peixes, fishes, FAUNA, animals, Itacoatiara, Amazonas, Amazônia, Amazon, Amazonian, Brazil, Brasil, Brazilian, América do Sul, South America, Rio Preto da Eva
EN3 Cold-blooded animal P15_350
PT3 Animal de sangue frio P15_350
© – Leonide Principe, all right reserved
https://leonideprincipe.photos