Hydrocynus vittatus
Without a doubt the most fearsome freshwater fish in South Africa, the Tigerfish is certainly well deserving of its scientific name – “Hydrocynus” being derived from the Greek for “Water Dog“.
Tigerfish live in schools in large, warm rivers and lakes. In South Africa they are found in the Phongolo River in northern Kwazulu-Natal, as well as the rivers of the Lowveld that are tributaries of the Komati and Limpopo river systems. The species is also found in almost all the major river systems of sub-Saharan Africa beyond our borders and in the Nile.
Tigerfish breed in summer, spawning on seasonally flooded alluvial plains along rivers and lakes. Fully grown females, at more than 70cm (tail excluded) in length and up to 15kg in weight, are considerably bigger than mature males who seldom grow longer than 50cm.
Tigerfish are predators throughout their lives; newly hatched fry feeding on plankton and invertebrates until they’ve grown to about 9cm in length by which time they have an entirely fish-based diet. Their ferocious teeth are continuously replaced throughout their life, which may span about 9 years. Tigerfish often fall prey to the African Fish Eagle owing to the fish’s habit of cruising close to the surface in open water searching for prey.
Tigerfish are a popular target species for recreational anglers and an important source of protein for many African communities.
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