Size: Up to 20″ in diameter and 30″ in length.While rarely fatal, the wound can often be a serious infection risk. While humans rarely intentionally disturb them their habit of covering themselves with sand in shallow water means they get stepped on frequently. And true to their name, they also have a venomous barb along the tail to deter predators. Polka Dot Stingrays have crushing jaws for devouring their prey, shell and all. These small yet strikingly colored stingrays are native to the Xingu River Basin in Brazil, where they hunt invertebrates like shrimp and clams. This makes the Polka Dot Stingray even more unusual. The majority of stingrays are marine fish closely related to sharks and sawfish, but there are several freshwater stingray species as well. Facts: Arowana can leap up to 6′ to catch prey.In Asia, show specimens also undergo liposuction and plastic surgery treatments to increase their aesthetic appeal and win shows for their owners. When put on display, armed guards are often needed to deter theft and even saboteurs bearing poison. The second most expensive fish ever purchased was an albino Asian Arowana that sold for $300,000. By Lerdsuwa – CC BY-SA 3.0,įrom Super Red Dragon to Platinum, these fish regularly reach four and five figure prices. Their Chinese name translates to “Dragon Fish,” describing their flowing fins, and large, bright scales. Specifically, the many color morphs that are found in captive bred varieties as wild Asian Arowanas are an endangered species. As symbols of prosperity in China, Singapore, and other East Asian countries, Asian Arowanas are some of the most expensive fish you can buy.