Tigerfish
Encyclopedia
Tigerfish is the common name for a variety of species from several different families of fish
, usually on account of their colouration or otherwise fearsome appearance and teeth.
Several species in the genus Hydrocynus
of the family Alestiidae
are called "tigerfish" and are particularly prized as gamefish. These African fish are found in many rivers and lakes on the continent and are fierce predators with distinctive protruding teeth. The fish bears a striking resemblance, in appearance and habits, to the dorados
of South America rivers, but is brilliant silver, as opposed to the gold of the Dorado. They may well have a common ancestor, long ago, when the two continents were united. Indeed, the Dorado is known as the "Tigre del Rio" - Tiger of the River.
The two most common species are probably most recognizable in Southern Africa. The first is the Goliath Tigerfish (Hydrocynus goliath
), reputed to reach 50kg in weight, which is found in the Congo River
system and Lake Tanganyika
, is the largest of the family. The second-largest, scaling up to 15kg, and the southernmost species, is the Tigerfish (Hydrocynus vittatus), commonly found in the Okavango Delta
, the Zambezi River and in the two biggest lakes along the Zambezi, Lake Kariba
in Zambia, Zimbabwe
, and Cabora Bassa in Mozambique, and Jozini dam in South Africa.
in the genus Rhamphochromis
. These are large, silver-colored fishes that may have one or two black horizontal lines running the length of the body. These fish are native to Lake Malawi
in Africa
. They can measure up to 2 meters (6 ft. 7 in.) in length and weigh up to 50 kg (105 lbs.) They also have very sharp teeth that can rip through skin easily; however, they are not known to eat humans. However, according to urbanlegends.com, the goliath tiger "has the somewhat singular distinction of being the only African freshwater fish (excluding the Zambezi shark, which is really a saltwater fish) known to attack humans, and there are several recorded incidents from the Congo River."
, depending on the taxonomic authority
) have been referred to as "tigerfish," particularly in fishkeeping
books and magazines. They are large, deep-bodied fish with bold vertical black bands against a white, grey, or brownish background. They inhabit fresh and brackish waters in Southeast Asia
...
n characins of the family Erythrinidae
have sometimes been called "tigerfish."
, though they belong to a completely different family, as they are famous for their ferocity when hunting. They have razor-sharp teeth that are interlocking, along with streamlined, muscular bodies built for speed. Tigerfish are aggressive predators. A tigerfish has a gas-filled sac in its body that it uses as a sound receiver. This transmits vibrations from the water, enabling it to detect any animals nearby and respond accordingly. A school of juveniles can tackle animals of almost any size, including any land animals that stray too close to the water's edge. Adults tend to travel in smaller groups of four or five, but they are no less dangerous. Even an individual can take down prey as large as itself. When food is scarce or the competition for food is too great, tigerfish may resort to cannibalism
. This is particularly common in the dry season. Tigerfish have also been known to attack humans, these attacks can be devastating owing to their sharp teeth and aggressive hunting tactics. There are a few recorded death cases.
Fish
Fish are a paraphyletic group of organisms that consist of all gill-bearing aquatic vertebrate animals that lack limbs with digits. Included in this definition are the living hagfish, lampreys, and cartilaginous and bony fish, as well as various extinct related groups...
, usually on account of their colouration or otherwise fearsome appearance and teeth.
Alestiidae
Hydrocynus
Hydrocynus is a fish genus in the family Alestidae, a family from the order Characiformes, endemic to the African continent. The name is derived from the Greek hydro + kyon...
of the family Alestiidae
Alestiidae
African tetras are a group of Characiformes fish exclusively found in Africa. This family contains about 18 genera and 110 species....
are called "tigerfish" and are particularly prized as gamefish. These African fish are found in many rivers and lakes on the continent and are fierce predators with distinctive protruding teeth. The fish bears a striking resemblance, in appearance and habits, to the dorados
Salminus
Salminus, popularly known as dorado or dourado, is a genus of relatively large, up to long, predatory freshwater fish from the Characidae family. They are native to large tropical and subtropical rivers in South America, and undertake migrations during the rainy season to spawn...
of South America rivers, but is brilliant silver, as opposed to the gold of the Dorado. They may well have a common ancestor, long ago, when the two continents were united. Indeed, the Dorado is known as the "Tigre del Rio" - Tiger of the River.
The two most common species are probably most recognizable in Southern Africa. The first is the Goliath Tigerfish (Hydrocynus goliath
Hydrocynus goliath
Hydrocynus goliath, also known as the goliath tigerfish, giant tigerfish or mbenga, is a very large African fish from the Congo River Basin, Lualaba River, Lake Upemba, and Lake Tanganyika. This large-toothed, highly predatory fish grows to a length of and a weight of .A number of incidents have...
), reputed to reach 50kg in weight, which is found in the Congo River
Congo River
The Congo River is a river in Africa, and is the deepest river in the world, with measured depths in excess of . It is the second largest river in the world by volume of water discharged, though it has only one-fifth the volume of the world's largest river, the Amazon...
system and Lake Tanganyika
Lake Tanganyika
Lake Tanganyika is an African Great Lake. It is estimated to be the second largest freshwater lake in the world by volume, and the second deepest, after Lake Baikal in Siberia; it is also the world's longest freshwater lake...
, is the largest of the family. The second-largest, scaling up to 15kg, and the southernmost species, is the Tigerfish (Hydrocynus vittatus), commonly found in the Okavango Delta
Okavango Delta
The Okavango Delta , in Botswana, is the world's largest inland delta. It is formed where the Okavango River empties onto a swamp in an endorheic basin in the Kalahari Desert, where most of the water is lost to evaporation and transpiration instead of draining into the sea...
, the Zambezi River and in the two biggest lakes along the Zambezi, Lake Kariba
Lake Kariba
Lake Kariba is the world's largest artificial lake and reservoir. It lies 1300 kilometers upstream from the Indian Ocean, along the border between Zambia and Zimbabwe...
in Zambia, Zimbabwe
Zimbabwe
Zimbabwe is a landlocked country located in the southern part of the African continent, between the Zambezi and Limpopo rivers. It is bordered by South Africa to the south, Botswana to the southwest, Zambia and a tip of Namibia to the northwest and Mozambique to the east. Zimbabwe has three...
, and Cabora Bassa in Mozambique, and Jozini dam in South Africa.
Cichlidae
The name "tigerfish" has occasionally been used for species of cichlidCichlid
Cichlids are fishes from the family Cichlidae in the order Perciformes. Cichlids are members of a group known as the Labroidei along with the wrasses , damselfish , and surfperches . This family is both large and diverse. At least 1,300 species have been scientifically described, making it one of...
in the genus Rhamphochromis
Rhamphochromis
Rhamphochromis is a genus of cichlid fish endemic to Lake Malawi in East Africa. The genus contains numerous species all of which are latterally compressed pursuit predators....
. These are large, silver-colored fishes that may have one or two black horizontal lines running the length of the body. These fish are native to Lake Malawi
Lake Malawi
Lake Malawi , is an African Great Lake and the southernmost lake in the Great Rift Valley system of East Africa. This lake, the third largest in Africa and the eighth largest lake in the world, is located between Malawi, Mozambique, and Tanzania...
in Africa
Africa
Africa is the world's second largest and second most populous continent, after Asia. At about 30.2 million km² including adjacent islands, it covers 6% of the Earth's total surface area and 20.4% of the total land area...
. They can measure up to 2 meters (6 ft. 7 in.) in length and weigh up to 50 kg (105 lbs.) They also have very sharp teeth that can rip through skin easily; however, they are not known to eat humans. However, according to urbanlegends.com, the goliath tiger "has the somewhat singular distinction of being the only African freshwater fish (excluding the Zambezi shark, which is really a saltwater fish) known to attack humans, and there are several recorded incidents from the Congo River."
Datnioididae
Several species of Coius (or DatnioidesDatnioides
Datnioides, also known as tigerfishes, are the only genus of fish in the family Datnioididae. The species of this genus are found in fresh and brackish waters of coastal areas and river estuaries in South and South East Asia....
, depending on the taxonomic authority
Biological classification
Biological classification, or scientific classification in biology, is a method to group and categorize organisms by biological type, such as genus or species. Biological classification is part of scientific taxonomy....
) have been referred to as "tigerfish," particularly in fishkeeping
Fishkeeping
Fishkeeping is a popular hobby concerned with keeping fish in a home aquarium or garden pond. There is also a fishkeeping industry, as a branch of agriculture.-Types of fishkeeping systems:...
books and magazines. They are large, deep-bodied fish with bold vertical black bands against a white, grey, or brownish background. They inhabit fresh and brackish waters in Southeast Asia
Southeast Asia
Southeast Asia, South-East Asia, South East Asia or Southeastern Asia is a subregion of Asia, consisting of the countries that are geographically south of China, east of India, west of New Guinea and north of Australia. The region lies on the intersection of geological plates, with heavy seismic...
...
Erythrinidae
The large South AmericaSouth America
South America is a continent situated in the Western Hemisphere, mostly in the Southern Hemisphere, with a relatively small portion in the Northern Hemisphere. The continent is also considered a subcontinent of the Americas. It is bordered on the west by the Pacific Ocean and on the north and east...
n characins of the family Erythrinidae
Erythrinidae
The Erythrinidae are a family of freshwater fish found in rivers from Costa Rica south as far as Argentina. They are common and are usually caught with hooks by fishermen, partially because of their voracious behaviour....
have sometimes been called "tigerfish."
Behaviour
Tigerfish can be considered Africa's equivalent of the South American piranhaPiranha
A piranha or piraña is a member of family Characidae in order Characiformes, an omnivorous freshwater fish that inhabits South American rivers. In Venezuela, they are called caribes...
, though they belong to a completely different family, as they are famous for their ferocity when hunting. They have razor-sharp teeth that are interlocking, along with streamlined, muscular bodies built for speed. Tigerfish are aggressive predators. A tigerfish has a gas-filled sac in its body that it uses as a sound receiver. This transmits vibrations from the water, enabling it to detect any animals nearby and respond accordingly. A school of juveniles can tackle animals of almost any size, including any land animals that stray too close to the water's edge. Adults tend to travel in smaller groups of four or five, but they are no less dangerous. Even an individual can take down prey as large as itself. When food is scarce or the competition for food is too great, tigerfish may resort to cannibalism
Cannibalism
Cannibalism is the act or practice of humans eating the flesh of other human beings. It is also called anthropophagy...
. This is particularly common in the dry season. Tigerfish have also been known to attack humans, these attacks can be devastating owing to their sharp teeth and aggressive hunting tactics. There are a few recorded death cases.