Tiger fish

📖 Overview

Prefers warm, well-oxygenated water, mainly larger rivers and lakes; all but the largest form roving schools of like-sized fish; aptly described as fierce and voracious; diet increasingly piscivorous, becoming exclusive fish feeders when above 90-100 mm length; feeds on whatever prey is most abundant but Brycinus, Micralestes, Barbus, and Limnothrissa are favored . Piscivorous, but may also eat Caridina and insects . Useful food fish in some areas .

🔬 Taxonomy

🐟 Physical Description

Dorsal spines (total): 0; Dorsal soft rays (total): 10; Anal spines: 0; Anal soft rays: 15. Diagnosis: large fang-like teeth overlapping the jaws when the mouth is closed; gill-rakers long, about equal to the length of gill filaments; body generally > 22% of SL . 43-53 scales in lateral line; 2 scale rows between lateral line and scaly process at pelvic-fin bases; eye < 70% of interorbital space . Dorsal-fin origin at about same level as pelvic-fin insertions . Gill rakers few (5-9/9-12) but rather long , about equal to the length of gill filaments . Tips of adipose and dorsal fins black; forked edge of caudal fin black . Dark caudal fin coloration may also extend unto median caudal rays, forming crescent-shaped blotch . Dark longitudinal streaks present above the lateral line .: fusiform / normal.

🌀 Behaviour

Hydrocynus vittatus mainly live near the bottom of the large freshwater rivers and lakes they inhabit. During the day they tend to be found closer to the surface and then move towards the bottom at night. They thrive in highly oxygenated water in warm climates. The breeding habits of this species are somewhat elusive but it is thought that spawning may take place over a couple of days during December or January. The timing depends on when the rivers and streams begin to swell due to the start of the rainy season. Females will lay their eggs in submerged vegetation in shallow water close to the shore. Hatchlings will remain in the safety of the vegetation until the water levels become low enough to force them further into the water. Smaller members of this species tends to school together, while larger tigerfish tend to live and hunt alone. These fish may migrate up to 100 km (62 mi) within the stream or river they inhabit.

🦐 Diet

Diet information for Tiger fish is currently being compiled.

🥚 Reproduction

🌍 Habitat & Distribution

Freshwater; demersal; potamodromous . Tropical; 22°C - 28°C West Africa: Niger, Bénoué, Ouémé, Senegal (Ref.

🌿 Ecology

📐 Morphometrics

🌡️ Water Parameters & Tolerance

🛡️ Conservation Assessment

📊 Population Risk & Fisheries

🍽️ Edibility & Flavour

"Tiger fish is an edible species."

⚡ Nutrition

Per 100g cooked - Source: USDA FoodData Central

🔬 Mercury Safety

Mercury data for Tiger fish has not yet been assigned. Please consult FDA/EPA guidance for general seafood safety advice.

🌿 Sustainability

🌐 Names & Taxonomy

Scientific Synonyms

🐠 Related Species

🔍 Similar Species

🗺️ Global Occurrence Map

Occurrence records from the Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF) - 325 records indexed .

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