''Hydrocynus goliath'', also known as the goliath tigerfish, giant tigerfish, or mbenga, is a very large African predatory freshwater fish of the family

Alestidae African tetras (family Alestidae, formerly spelled Alestiidae) are a group of characiform fish exclusively found in Africa. This family contains about 18 genera and 119 species. Among the best known members are the Congo tetra, and African tige ...

Distribution

''Hydrocynus goliath'' is found in the

Congo River Basin The Congo River ( kg, Nzâdi Kôngo, french: Fleuve Congo, pt, Rio Congo), formerly also known as the Zaire River, is the second longest river in Africa, shorter only than the Nile, as well as the second largest river in the world by discharge ...

(including

Lualaba River The Lualaba River flows entirely within the eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo. It provides the greatest streamflow to the Congo River, while the source of the Congo is recognized as the Chambeshi. The Lualaba is long. Its headwaters are i ...

and

Lake Upemba Lake Upemba is a lake in Bukama, Haut-Lomami District, the Democratic Republic of the Congo. It, and nearby Lake Kisale, is surrounded by the Upemba Depression in Upemba National Park. The nearest town is Nyonga, and the nearest hospital is loca ...

), and Lake Tanganyika. A study published in 2011 revealed several

mtDNA Mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA or mDNA) is the DNA located in mitochondria, cellular organelles within eukaryotic cells that convert chemical energy from food into a form that cells can use, such as adenosine triphosphate (ATP). Mitochondrial DNA ...

clades in this region, suggesting a higher tigerfish

species richness Species richness is the number of different species represented in an ecological community, landscape or region. Species richness is simply a count of species, and it does not take into account the abundances of the species or their relative ab ...

than traditionally recognized. If confirmed, this would restrict ''H. goliath'' to the Congo River Basin.Goodier, S.A.M., F.P.D. Cotterill, C. O'Ryan, P.H. Skelton, and M.J de Wit (2011).
Cryptic Diversity of African Tigerfish (Genus Hydrocynus) Reveals Palaeogeographic Signatures of Linked Neogene Geotectonic Events
'' PLoS ONE 6(12): e28775. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0028775 Four additional species ('' H. vittatus'' and three unknown species) appear to be present in this Basin, while two (''H. vittatus'' and an unknown species) appear to be present in Lake Tanganyika.

Description

This large-toothed, highly predatory fish grows to an average length of and a weight of . Its teeth fit into distinct grooves along its jaws. On average each of its teeth can grow up to , according to biologist and television presenter

Jeremy Wade Jeremy John Wade (born 23 March 1956) is an English television presenter, an author of books on angling, a freshwater detective, and a biologist. He is known for his television series ''River Monsters'', ''Mighty Rivers'', and ''Dark Waters''. He ...

. The largest recorded specimen weighed .

Diet

''Hydrocynus goliath'' is a

piscivore A piscivore () is a carnivorous animal that eats primarily fish. The name ''piscivore'' is derived . Piscivore is equivalent to the Greek-derived word ichthyophage, both of which mean "fish eater". Fish were the diet of early tetrapod evoluti ...

, feeding on any fish it can overpower, including smaller members of the same species. When hunting, this fish uses the calmer eddies of the rapids to ambush its prey, using its keen sight to detect prey. When a target is noticed, the fish accelerates to chase it down. The

Nile crocodile The Nile crocodile (''Crocodylus niloticus'') is a large crocodilian native to freshwater habitats in Africa, where it is present in 26 countries. It is widely distributed throughout sub-Saharan Africa, occurring mostly in the central, eastern, ...

is the only known predator of mature goliath tigerfish.

Interaction with humans

A number of incidents have been reported in The Congo of this fish attacking humans. This reputation, combined with its strength, has earned it an almost mythical status among anglers, and it has been called the "greatest freshwater

gamefish Game fish, sport fish or quarry refer to popular fish pursued by recreational anglers, and can be freshwater or saltwater fish. Game fish can be eaten after being caught, or released after capture. Some game fish are also targeted commercia ...

in the world".

References

External links

Goliath Tigerfish , The Proceedings of the Ever so Strange
* https://web.archive.org/web/20101206040928/http://channel.nationalgeographic.com/series/explorer/3826/Overview * *
Mystical goliath tiger fish caught on camera
. 21 October 2010. {{Taxonbar, from=Q1460026 Alestidae Freshwater fish of Central Africa Congo drainage basin Taxa named by George Albert Boulenger Fish described in 1898 Sport fish