''Hydrocynus brevis'', also known as the tigerfish, Nile tigerfish or Sahelian tigerfish, is a predatory freshwater fish distributed throughout Africa.
Appearance
The tigerfish is silver in colour when young, with thin black horizontal stripes and an elongated body that tapers at both ends. As the fish grows, it will develop a bronze coloration and the stripes will fade. The ventral and caudal fins have a slight red-orange tint, and the adipose fin is grey to black. It grows to a length of
SL.
["Hydrocynus Brevis (Gunther, 1864)." FishBase. N.p., n.d. Web. 22 Dec. 2013.]
Distribution
This species has a wide distribution. It is found from
Senegal
Senegal,; Wolof: ''Senegaal''; Pulaar: 井仆井內丐中五 (Senegaali); Arabic: 塈堻媞塈 ''As-Sinighal'') officially the Republic of Senegal,; Wolof: ''R矇ewum Senegaal''; Pulaar : 井仆不丐仆不五 ...
to
Ethiopia
Ethiopia, , om, Itiyoophiyaa, so, Itoobiya, ti, Ｓ菲桑菲, tiyop'iya, aa, Itiyoppiya officially the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia, is a landlocked country in the Horn of Africa. It shares borders with Eritrea to the ...
, throughout the
Nile
The Nile, , Bohairic , lg, Kiira , Nobiin language, Nobiin: man Daw贖 is a major north-flowing river in northeastern Africa. It flows into the Mediterranean Sea. The Nile is the longest river in Africa and has historically been considered ...
. In Northeast Africa it is found in the Ghazal and Jebel systems,
Sudan
Sudan ( or ; ar, 塈堻堹塈, as-S贖dn, officially the Republic of the Sudan ( ar, 堿堭堜 塈堻堹塈, link=no, Jumh贖riyyat as-S贖dn), is a country in Northeast Africa. It shares borders with the Central African Republic t ...
, as well as
Baro River
The Baro River ( am, ) or Baro/Openo Wenz, known to the Anuak as Openo River, is a river in southwestern Ethiopia, which defines part of Ethiopian border with South Sudan. From its source in the Ethiopian Highlands it flows west ...
,
Ethiopia
Ethiopia, , om, Itiyoophiyaa, so, Itoobiya, ti, Ｓ菲桑菲, tiyop'iya, aa, Itiyoppiya officially the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia, is a landlocked country in the Horn of Africa. It shares borders with Eritrea to the ...
. In Western Africa it is known from
Chad
Chad (; ar, 堛奡塈堹 , ; french: Tchad, ), officially the Republic of Chad, '; ) is a landlocked country at the crossroads of North and Central Africa. It is bordered by Libya to the north, Sudan to the east, the Central African Republic ...
,
Niger/B矇nou矇,
Volta,
Senegal
Senegal,; Wolof: ''Senegaal''; Pulaar: 井仆井內丐中五 (Senegaali); Arabic: 塈堻媞塈 ''As-Sinighal'') officially the Republic of Senegal,; Wolof: ''R矇ewum Senegaal''; Pulaar : 井仆不丐仆不五 ...
and
Gambia
The Gambia,, ff, Gammbi, ar, 媞塈堥塈 officially the Republic of The Gambia, is a country in West Africa. It is the smallest country within mainland AfricaHoare, Ben. (2002) ''The Kingfisher A-Z Encyclopedia'', Kingfisher Publicatio ...
.
Habitat and ecology
A
demersal
The demersal zone is the part of the sea or ocean (or deep lake) consisting of the part of the water column near to (and significantly affected by) the seabed and the benthos. The demersal zone is just above the benthic zone and forms a layer of ...
,
potamodromous
Fish migration is animal migration, mass relocation by fish from one area or body of water to another. Many types of fish migrate on a regular basis, on time scales ranging from daily to annually or longer, and over distances ranging from a few ...
freshwater species, ''Hydrocynus brevis'' prefers open-water habitats. It feeds mainly on fish and shrimps, with smaller individuals consuming aquatic insects.
Population and conservation status
This species is rather common over most of its range, without any known widespread threats. There is, however, a conservation policy in place in
Ghana
Ghana (; tw, Gaana, ee, Gana), officially the Republic of Ghana, is a country in West Africa. It abuts the Gulf of Guinea and the Atlantic Ocean to the south, sharing borders with Ivory Coast in the west, Burkina Faso in the north, and To ...
, and one potential threat is overfishing, as well as
deforestation
Deforestation or forest clearance is the removal of a forest or stand of trees from land that is then converted to non-forest use. Deforestation can involve conversion of forest land to farms, ranches, or urban use. The most concentrated d ...
and
pollution
Pollution is the introduction of contaminants into the natural environment that cause adverse change. Pollution can take the form of any substance (solid, liquid, or gas) or energy (such as radioactivity, heat, sound, or light). Pollutants, the ...
. There currently is a lack of research regarding the population of the species and its range. Habitat maintenance and restoration may also be required.
[
]
References
Alestidae
Fish of Africa
Fish described in 1864
Taxa named by Albert G羹nther
{{Characiformes-stub