# Tigerfish > Mediated Wiki article. Canonical URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Tigerfish > Markdown URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Tigerfish.md > Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tigerfish > Source revision: 1355400459 > License: Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/) Fish from various families This article is about the fish called the tigerfish. For the torpedo, see [Mark 24 Tigerfish](/source/Mark_24_Tigerfish). For the fictional United States Navy submarine USS *Tigerfish* in the movie *Ice Station Zebra*, see [Ice Station Zebra (film)](/source/Ice_Station_Zebra_(film)). This article includes a list of general references, but it lacks sufficient corresponding inline citations. Please help to improve this article by introducing more precise citations. (April 2012) (Learn how and when to remove this message) **Tigerfish** can refer to fish from various [families](/source/Family_(taxonomy)), and derives from official and colloquial associations of these with the [tiger](/source/Tiger) (*Panthera tigris*). However, the primary species designated by the name "tigerfish" are African and belong to the family [Alestidae](/source/Alestidae). ## African tigerfish *Hydrocynus vittatus* Several species belonging to the genus *[Hydrocynus](/source/Hydrocynus)* of the family [Alestidae](/source/Alestidae) are referred to as "tigerfish", and are particularly prized as [game fish](/source/Game_fish). These [African](/source/Africa) [fish](/source/Fish) are found in many rivers and lakes on the continent and are fierce predators with distinctive, proportionally large teeth. The goliath tigerfish (*[Hydrocynus goliath](/source/Hydrocynus_goliath)*) is among the most famous tigerfish. The largest one on record is said to have weighed 70 kg (154 pounds).[1] It is found in the [Congo River](/source/Congo_River) system and [Lake Tanganyika](/source/Lake_Tanganyika) and is the largest member of the family Alestidae. Another famous species, simply called the tigerfish (*[Hydrocynus vittatus](/source/Hydrocynus_vittatus)*), is commonly found in the southernly [Okavango Delta](/source/Okavango_Delta), and the [Zambezi River](/source/Zambezi_River), and also in the two biggest lakes along the Zambezi, [Lake Kariba](/source/Lake_Kariba) which borders Zimbabwe and Zambia, Kabombo River in Zambia and [Cabora Bassa](/source/Cabora_Bassa) in Mozambique, and finally in the [Jozini dam](/source/Pongolapoort_Dam) in South Africa. Both the goliath tigerfish and its smaller relative the tigerfish are found in Africa. ### Behavior In the western gamefishing world, *[Hydrocynus vittatus](/source/Hydrocynus_vittatus)* is considered Africa's [equivalent](/source/Convergent_evolution) of the South American [piranha](/source/Piranha),[2] though it belongs to a completely different zoological family. Like the piranha, individual tigerfish have interlocking, razor-sharp teeth, along with streamlined, muscular bodies, and are extremely aggressive and capable predators who often hunt in groups. The [African tigerfish](/source/African_tigerfish) has been recorded to attack and catch birds in flight.[3] ## [Cichlids](/source/Cichlids) The name "tigerfish" has occasionally been used for a species of [cichlid](/source/Cichlid) in the genus *[Rhamphochromis](/source/Rhamphochromis)*. The species is large, silver-coloured, and individuals typically have one or more black lines running the length of either flank. These fish are native to [Lake Malawi](/source/Lake_Malawi) in Africa. Like the other African tigerfish species, they are famed for possessing large, prominent teeth, and they are known to attack humans.[*[citation needed](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Citation_needed)*] ## [Datnioididae](/source/Datnioididae) Several species of *[Coius](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Coius&action=edit&redlink=1)* (or *[Datnioides](/source/Datnioides)*, depending on the [taxonomic authority](/source/Biological_classification)) have been referred to as "tigerfish", particularly in [fishkeeping](/source/Fishkeeping) books and magazines. They are large, wide-bodied fish whose flanks are covered by vivid black stripes. ## [Erythrinidae](/source/Erythrinidae) The large South American [characins](/source/Characin) of the family [Erythrinidae](/source/Erythrinidae) have also sometimes been called "tigerfish". ## See also - [Tiger shark](/source/Tiger_shark) - [Tiger barb](/source/Tiger_barb) ## References 1. **[^](#cite_ref-1)** [Goliath Tigerfish](http://www.animalplanet.com/tv-shows/river-monsters/fish-guide/goliath-tigerfish/), Animal Planet (March 18, 2014). 1. **[^](#cite_ref-2)** [Africa's Piranha](http://www.smithsonianchannel.com/shows/africas-piranha/0/3418376), Smithsonian Channel (accessed September 28, 2015) 1. **[^](#cite_ref-3)** [Fish leaps to catch birds on the wing (video)](http://www.nature.com/news/video-fish-leaps-to-catch-birds-on-the-wing-1.14496), Nature.com (January 9, 2014). - [Tiger fish](http://www.safari-guide.co.uk/animals_fish_tigerfish.php) – *Guide to the Tiger fish (Hydrocynus forskalii)* - Phillipson, David W. (1975). *Mosi-oa-Tunya: A Handbook to the Victoria Falls Region*. Longman. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [0-582-64170-5](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/0-582-64170-5). [OCLC](/source/OCLC_(identifier)) [2639131](https://search.worldcat.org/oclc/2639131). ## External links - [Discovery Channel's River Monsters](https://web.archive.org/web/20111202104600/http://animal.discovery.com/fish/river-monsters/goliath-tigerfish/) - [Fishbase list of species commonly called "tigerfish"](http://www.fishbase.org/ComNames/CommonNameSearchList.cfm?commonname=tigerfish) - [Fishbase list of species commonly called "tiger fish"](http://www.fishbase.org/ComNames/CommonNameSearchList.cfm?commonname=tiger%20fish) --- Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Tigerfish](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tigerfish) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tigerfish?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.