Goliath tigerfish
Hydrocynus goliath
— Where the name comes from
Hydrocynus is “water dog”, from hýdōr and kýōn, and anyone who has seen its dentition understands why; goliath gives the size. There are thirty-two conical teeth up to two and a half centimetres long, interlocking with one another like the jaws of a trap: when the mouth closes not a millimetre of space is left.
— Facts
- Group
- Fish · Actinopterygii · Chondrichthyes
- Order
- Characins
- Habitat
- Fast currents and rapids of the Congo basin, deep lakes
- Range
- The Congo basin, Lake Tanganyika, central Africa
- Size
- 100–150 cm, up to 180 cm; 30–50 kg
- Diet
- Fish of any size, birds
- Lifespan
- 15 years
— Characteristics
- 01
The teeth interlock with one another and regrow one at a time.
- 02
It hunts in strong current, where prey struggle to manoeuvre.
- 03
It is the largest characiform in Africa.
— What sets it apart
In 2014 South African researchers filmed for the first time a freshwater fish catching birds in flight: a close relative of this species rose out of the water and seized swallows crossing a lake, correcting its aim for refraction. Until then the behaviour had been only a fishermen’s tale. It is possible because these fish have excellent eyesight and blistering acceleration, and because in African rapids they have learned to take anything that moves above the surface.
