Which freshwater fish is the only living species in the genus Heterotis?

The African arowana is the only living species in the genus Heterotis. Its scientific name is Heterotis niloticus, and it is native to freshwater habitats in tropical Africa. Despite its common name, it is not a close taxonomic equivalent of the South American silver arowana or the Asian arowanas.

The African arowana is unusual among large African freshwater fishes because it can feed by filtering small organisms and organic material from water and sediment. It also consumes other food items, including insects and small fish. Its body is elongated, and its mouth is adapted for specialized feeding.

The species is sometimes confused with the unrelated arapaima, another large air-breathing fish. Both belong to the broader order Osteoglossiformes, but Heterotis niloticus is the sole living member of its genus.