arowana
noun
aro·wa·na
ˌa-rə-ˈwä-nə
ˌer-ə-
variants
or less commonly aruana
or arawana
or arahuana
: any of several large, tropical, chiefly carnivorous freshwater fish (family Osteoglossidae and especially genera Osteoglossum and Scleropages) of South America, southeastern Asia, Australia, and Africa that have large bony scales, a toothed tongue, and a large mouth with an oblique gape
Note: Arowanas have a laterally compressed body and are typically silvery white, gold, red, or green. In the wild, some arowanas may reach a length of four feet (1.2 meters) or longer but are usually smaller when kept as aquarium fish.
called also bonytongue, dragonfish
compare pirarucuCite this Entry
“Arowana.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/arowana. Accessed 2 Apr. 2025.
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