336 FISHES OF WESTERN SOUTH AMERICA 
Family XVII: Arapaimidae 
Formerly united with the Osteoglossidae by reason of superficial similarities, 
large scales, colors, etc., now separated on the basis of the rounded venter, want of 
barbels, dentition, scaled ventral fins, ete. 
Fig. 36. Preparation of the paiche for drying; skinning. The fish lies belly-down- 
ward, the head to the right. 
Genus 1938: ARAPAIMA Miiller 
Sudis Cuvier, 1817, Regne Anim., IT, 180, preoccupied by Rafinesque. 
Arapaima Miller, 1848, Arch. Naturg., 191; 
Miiller, 1846, Abh. Akad. Wiss. Berlin, 191; 
Giinther, 1868, Cat. Fish. Brit. Mus., VIT, 379; 
EKigenmann and Higenmann, 1891, Proc. U.S. Nat. Mus., XIV, 64; 
EKigenmann, 1910, Rept. Princeton Univ. Exped. Patagonia, ITT, 453; 
Eigenmann, 1912, Mem. Carnegie Mus., V, 450. 
Vastres Cuvier and Valenciennes, 1846, Hist. Nat. Poiss., XTX, 4383. 
