| Hydrocynus | |
|---|---|
 | |
| The five currently recognized species. From top to bottom:H. vittatus,H. tanzaniae,H. forskahlii,H. brevis andH. goliath | |
Scientific classification | |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Actinopterygii |
| Order: | Characiformes |
| Family: | Alestidae |
| Subfamily: | Alestinae |
| Genus: | Hydrocynus Cuvier, 1816 |
| Type species | |
| Hydrocyon forskahlii Cuvier, 1819 | |
| Species | |
5, see text. | |
Hydrocynus is agenus ofcharacin fish in the familyAlestidae commonly called "tigerfish," native toAfrica. The genus name is derived fromAncient Greek ὕδωρ ("water"[1]) + κύων ("dog"[1]). The genus contains five species,[2] all commonly known as "Africantigerfish" for their fierce predatory behaviour and other characteristics that make them excellentgame fish.[3]Hydrocynus are normallypiscivorous,[4] butH. vittatus is proven to prey on birds in flight.[5]
The earliest fossils which have been identified as belonging toHydrocynus are dated asLate Miocene, and have been found from theChad, Maronga,Turkana andSemliki basins of northern and eastern Africa, in all of whichHydrocynus species still occur.[2] The oldest lineage appears to be that ofHydrocynus goliath, while lineages ofH. brevis andH. forskahlii diverged in the Late Miocene andPliocene while the lineages which formedH. tanzaniae and the "vittatus complex" appear in the Pliocene.[2]
Five species ofHydrocynus tigerfish are currently recognised.[6]
The different species tigerfish are among the most important and popular game fish species in Africa and as a result they are an important asset to the various tourist industries. They are also one of the most important components of commercial freshwater catches in Africa.[7]
Authority control databases: National |
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