Classification / Names Common names | Synonyms | Catalog of Fishes (gen., sp.) | ITIS | CoL | WoRMS | Cloffa

Actinopterygii (ray-finned fishes) > Characiformes (Characins) > Alestidae (African tetras)
Etymology: Hydrocynus: Greek, hydr = water + Greek, kyon = dog (Ref. 45335).

Environment / Climate / Range Ecology

Freshwater; demersal; potamodromous (Ref. 51243). Tropical; 22°C - 28°C (Ref. 12468), preferred ?

Distribution Countries | FAO areas | Ecosystems | Occurrences | Point map | Introductions | Faunafri

West-Africa: Niger, Bénoué, Ouémé, Senegal (Ref. 2880, 5331, 7248, 81279), Ouémé (unconfirmed, Ref. 81279), Chad (Ref. 2880, 5331, 81279). Also found in the Volta (Ref. 5331, 81279) and Mono rivers (Ref. 81279). Lower Guinea: Cross and Sanaga basins (Ref. 80290). Widespread throughout the Congo River basin (Ref. 4910, 41585, 41594, 42510, 45616, 52070, 89725, 106290). Also reported from Nile, Omo, Zambezi, Limpopo, Rovuma, Shire, Rufiji, Ruaha, Lake Tanganyika, Lake Rukwa (Ref. 2880, 80290), Lake Albert (Ref. 4903) and Lake Kariba (Ref. 27602), Malagarazi, Okavango and lower reaches of coastal systems south to Pongolo (Ref. 7248).

Length at first maturity / Size / Weight / Age

Maturity: L_m 39.8 range ? - ? cm
Max length : 105 cm FL male/unsexed; (Ref. 40637); 74.0 cm FL (female); max. published weight: 28.0 kg (Ref. 40637); max. reported age: 8 years (Ref. 2754)

Short description Morphology | Morphometrics

Dorsal spines (total): 0; Dorsal soft rays (total): 10; Anal spines: 0; Anal soft rays: 15. Diagnosis: 2 scale rows between lateral line and scaly process at pelvic-fin bases; eye < 70% of interorbital space (Ref. 2880, 81279). Dorsal-fin origin at about same level as pelvic-fin insertions; tips of adipose and dorsal fins black; forked edge of caudal fin black (Ref. 2880, 80290, 81279).

Prefers warm, well-oxygenated water, mainly larger rivers and lakes; all but the largest form roving schools of like-sized fish; aptly described as fierce and voracious; feeds on whatever prey is most abundant but Brycinus, Micralestes, Barbus, and Limnothrissa are favored (Ref. 7248). Useful food fish in some areas (Ref. 4967).

Life cycle and mating behavior Maturity | Reproduction | Spawning | Eggs | Fecundity | Larvae

Main reference Upload your references | References | Coordinator | Collaborators

Paugy, D. and S.A. Schaefer, 2007. Alestidae. p. 347-411. In M.L.J. Stiassny, G.G. Teugels and C.D. Hopkins (eds.) Poissons d'eaux douces et saumâtres de basse Guinée, ouest de l'Afrique centrale/The fresh and brackish water fishes of Lower Guinea, west-central Africa. Vol. 1. Coll. Faune et Flore tropicales 42. Istitut de recherche pour le développement, Paris, France, Muséum nationale d'histoire naturelle, Paris, France and Musée royale de l'Afrique centrale, Tervuren, Belgique. 800 p. (Ref. 80290)

IUCN Red List Status (Ref. 115185)

Least Concern (LC)

CITES (Ref. 94142)

Not Evaluated

Threat to humans

Harmless

Human uses

Fisheries: commercial; gamefish: yes

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Hydrocynus vittatus Castelnau, 1861