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Which osteoglossomorph species are used as food fishes?

Created from Britannica articles using AI. AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.
A large pirarucu fish (Arapaima gigas) with dark scales and reddish tail swims in an aquarium, with tree-like structures and aquatic plants in the background.
osteoglossomorph

While osteoglossomorphs are generally of limited importance to humans, certain species within this group are sought commercially as food fishes in regions of Africa, Asia, and South America.1

Among the notable species in this group is the pirarucu (Arapaima gigas), which is found in the Amazon and is recognized as one of the world's largest freshwater fishes. Additionally, the group includes various mormyrids (elephant-snout fishes) that are utilized in these regions.1

The superorder Osteoglossomorpha is divided into two orders: Osteoglossiformes and Hiodontiformes. While the aforementioned species are consumed, the group as a whole is primarily characterized by its unique biological trait of using the tongue as an opposing surface for teeth when biting into food.2