Hydrocynus tanzaniae | |
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Scientific classification ![]() | |
Domain: | Eukaryota |
Kingdom: | Animalia |
Phylum: | Chordata |
Class: | Actinopterygii |
Order: | Characiformes |
Family: | Alestidae |
Genus: | Hydrocynus |
Species: | H. tanzaniae
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Binomial name | |
Hydrocynus tanzaniae Brewster, 1986
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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).