Tiger fish

Hydrocynus vittatus

Leaping to catch swallows

Tropical
Coastal
Lower river
Regional distribution
Freshwater fish
Africa
Fusiform
Large
Tropical fish

Hydrocynus vittatus, the African tigerfish, tiervis or ngwesh is a freshwater fish distributed throughout much of Africa. This predatory fish is generally a piscivore but it has been observed leaping out of the water and catching barn swallows in flight.

Class: Teleosts
Order: Characins
Family: Alestidae
Genus: Hydrocynus
Maximum length: 105 cm
Water: Freshwater
Body shape: fusiform
Distribution: West Africa: Niger, Bénoué, Ouémé, Senegal (Ref. 2880 , 5331 , 7248 , 81279 ), Ouémé (unconfirmed, Ref. 81279 ), Chad (Ref. 2880 , 5331 , 81279 ). Also found in the Volta (Ref. 5331 , 81279 ) and Mono rivers (Ref. 81279 ). Lower Guinea: Cross and Sanaga basins (Ref. 80290 ). Widespread throughout the Congo River basin (Ref. 4910 , 41585 , 41594 , 42510 , 45616 , 52070 , 89725 , 106290 ). Also reported from Nile, Omo, Zambezi, Limpopo, Rovuma, Shire, Rufiji, Ruaha, Lake Tanganyika, Lake Rukwa (Ref. 2880 , 80290 ), Lake Albert (Ref. 4903 ) and Lake Kariba (Ref. 27602 ), Malagarazi, Okavango and lower reaches of coastal systems south to the Pongolo (Ref. 7248 ).
Conservation status: LCLeast Concern

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