"THE TIGER FISH"

This fish, whose scientific name is Hydrocynus goliath, goes by several common names: “tiger fish,” the giant GoliathTigerfish," and "Striped Tiger Fish." It lives in the Congo River Basin and Lake Tanganyika in Africa. The specific habitats of this fish are deep river channels, fast-flowing streams, and open lakes. There are five species of these fish (all in the same genus). Some of these fish can live up to 10 to 15 years, weight up to 145 pounds, and are up 6 feet long.

Figure 1. A "Tiger Fish." The black object on the lower left is a swallow bird that narrowly escaped being "grabbed and eaten" by a "tiger fish."

The "Tiger Fish" body resembles that of a tuna, and it can take a fisherman a day to “land one” via a fishing pole. The “tiger fish” is a VERY STRONG swimmer and can capture its prey in turbulent water. They are known to have killed large mammals (including some humans) that enter the lakes. If you look online, you will find some “redacted” images, which I imagine used to show some very grim details of what these fish can do to mammals that accidently fall into the water with these Giant-Tiger fish present. 

"Tiger Fish" have very sharp, dagger-like, conical teeth, up to an inch long! The size of their teeth is very similar to that of a Great White Shark! The upper jaw of H. goliath has 12 to 20 teeth, and their lower jaw has fewer (five or so) teeth. Each tooth is about 1 inch long. Like a shark, they have half-grown replacement teeth behind the “main teeth.” 

                          Figure 2. Teeth of the "tiger fish."

It takes at least 10 years for these fish to reach full maturity. They are good to eat but are very bony and oily.

  Classification

Kingdom Animalia

Phylum Chordata

Class Actinopterygii

Order Characiformes

Family Alestidae

Genus Hydrocynus
Type Species H. goliath

These fish are very strong swimmers and can capture prey in turbulent water. They are even known to have captured birds (swallows, etc.) flying low over lakes! In fact, they are the only recorded/photographed

fresh-water fish to catch birds in flight! There are videos online to prove that they can catch birds that fly low over the water. They are definitely an “ambush predator.”

Figure 3. A tigerish that caught a swallow bird 

flying over the water surface.

The Giant Tigerfish is a relative of piranhas and carp fish.

References

Macmillan illustrated animal encyclopedia. 1984. Macmillan Publishing Company, New York, 600 pp.

Wikipedia, 2026.