Family Alestidae Rank Species | Phylum Chordata | |
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Similar Hydrocynus forskahlii, Hydrocynus brevis, Hydrocynus, Hydrocynus vittatus, Bryconaethiops | ||
2 75 african tiger fish hydrocynus tanzaniae
Hydrocynus tanzaniae is a large African predatory freshwater fish.
Contents
Distribution
The eastward flowing rivers of Tanzania and in the Ruaha and Rufiji river systems.
Description
Hydrocynus tanzaniae, the blue tigerfish, is a large, predatory fish. It has pronounced dentition similar to those found in Hydrocynus forskahlii. The holotype was nine and a half inches long (247mm), but specimens have been caught by fishermen greater than 27 inches (70 cm) and 25 pounds (11 kg). At a given length, H. tanzaniae has a deeper body than either H. forskahlii or H. vittatus. These fish are a silvery grey color and often have pronounced stripes. They often have markings in blue, black, pink, green and red, making them among the more colorful of African tiger fish. Uniquely among the African tiger fish, they have a blue adipose fin (other species have a black adipose fin).