Scientific Name
Hydrocynus vittatus

Common Name
Tiger fish

Biology
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. Feeds on whatever prey is most abundant but Brycinus, Micralestes, Barbus, and Limnothrissa are favored (Ref. 7248). Useful food fish in some areas (Ref. 4967).

Classification

Classified By

Castelnau, 1861

Class

Ray-finned fishes (Actinopterygii)

Order

Characins (Characiformes)

Family

African tetras (Alestidae)

Distribution

Region

Africa

Distribution

Africa: Niger/B?nou?, Ou?m?, Senegal, Nile, Omo, Congo, Lufira, Lualaba, Luapula, Zambeze, Limpopo, Rovuma, Shore, Rufiji , Ruaha, Wami, and Ruvu. Lakes - Bangw?olo, Mo?ro, Tanganyika, Upemba, Rukwa and Malagarazi. Also Okavango and lower reaches of coastal systems south to Pongolo (Ref. 7248). Also found in Lake Kariba (Ref. 27602).

Range

Unknown

Environment

Climate

Tropical

Water Temperature From

22 °C

Water Temperature To

28 °C

Depth From - meters

Unknown m

Depth To - meters

Unknown m

Zone

demersal

Environment

Freshwater; demersal; potamodromous (Ref. 51243)

Trophic Level

4.40339994609356 s.e. 0.78 Based on diet studies.

Occurs in Marine / Salt water

False

Occurs in Brackish water

False

Occurs in Fresh Water

True

Occurs on Reefs

False

Is kept in Aquariums

False

Physical Size and Genetics

Maximum Length

105 cm

Common Length

Unknown cm

Phylogenetic Diversity Index

PD50 = 0.5156 many relatives (e.g. carps) 0.5 - 2.0 few relatives (e.g. lungfishes)

Human Uses and Population

Human Uses

Fisheries: commercial; gamefish: yes

Vulnerability

Moderate vulnerability (41 of 100)

Resilience

Medium, minimum population doubling time 1.4 - 4.4 years (K=0.20-0.30; tmax=11)

Threat To Humans

Harmless

IUCN Red List Status

Least Concern (LC)