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)

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): 2; Dorsal soft rays (total): 8; Anal spines: 3; Anal soft rays: 12. Diagnosis: two scale rows between lateral line and scaly process at pelvic-fin bases; rakers of first gill arch normally developed; dorsal-fin origin at about same level as pelvic-fin insertions (Ref. 81279). Eye < 70% of interorbital space; body profile less slender than H. forskalii; tips of adipose and dorsal fins black. Forked edge of caudal fin black (Ref. 2880, 81279).

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

Africa: Niger/Bénoué, Ouémé, Senegal (Ref. 7248, 81279), Chad, Volta, Mono (Ref. 81279), Nile, Omo, Congo, Lufira, Lualaba, Luapula, Zambeze, Limpopo, Rovuma, Shore, Rufiji , Ruaha, Wami, and Ruvu. Lakes - Bangwéolo, Moéro, Tanganyika, Upemba, Rukwa and Malagarazi. Also Okavango and lower reaches of coastal systems south to Pongolo (Ref. 7248). Also found in Lake Kariba (Ref. 27602).

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).

Main reference Upload your references | References | Coordinator | Collaborators

Paugy, D., 1990. Characidae. p. 195-236. In C. Lévêque, D. Paugy and G.G. Teugels (eds.) Faune des poissons d'eaux douces et saumâtres de l'Afrique de l'Ouest. Tome I. Coll. Faune Tropicale n° XXVIII. Musée Royal de l'Afrique Centrale, Tervuren et O.R.S.T.O.M., Paris, 384 p.

IUCN Red List Status (Ref. 90363)

Least Concern (LC)

Threat to humans

Harmless

Human uses

Fisheries: commercial; gamefish: yes

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Estimates of some properties based on empirical models

Phylogenetic diversity index (Ref. 82805): PD₅₀ = 0.5156 [Uniqueness, from 0.5 = low to 2.0 = high].

Bayesian length-weight: a=0.01086 (-0.04315 - 0.06487), b=3.02 (2.98 - 3.05), based on LWR estimates for this species (Ref. 93245).

Trophic Level (Ref. 69278): 4.4 ±0.8 se; Based on diet studies.

Resilience (Ref. 69278): Medium, minimum population doubling time 1.4 - 4.4 years (K=0.20-0.30; tmax=11).

Vulnerability (Ref. 59153): Moderate vulnerability (41 of 100) .

Price category (Ref. 80766): Unknown.

Hydrocynus vittatus Castelnau, 1861