Hydrocynus tanzaniae | |
---|---|
![]() | |
Scientific classification
![]() | |
Domain: | Eukaryota |
Kingdom: | Animalia |
Phylum: | Chordata |
Class: | Actinopterygii |
Order: | Characiformes |
Family: | Alestidae |
Genus: | Hydrocynus |
Species: | H. tanzaniae
|
Binomial name | |
Hydrocynus tanzaniae
Brewster, 1986
|
Hydrocynus tanzaniae, the blue tigerfish, is a large African predatory freshwater fish.
The eastward flowing rivers of Tanzania and in the Ruaha and Rufiji river systems. [2]
Hydrocynus tanzaniae is a large, predatory fish. It has pronounced dentition similar to those found in Hydrocynus forskahlii. [2] The holotype was nine and a half inches long (247mm), [2] but specimens have been caught by fishermen greater than 27 inches (70 cm) and 25 pounds (11 kg). [3] At a given length, H. tanzaniae has a deeper body than either H. forskahlii or H. vittatus. [4] These fish are a silvery grey color [3] and often have pronounced stripes. [2] [3] They often have markings in blue, black, pink, green and red, [3] making them among the more colorful of African tiger fish. Uniquely among the African tiger fish, they have a blue adipose fin [3] (other species have a black adipose fin).