Goliath tigerfish facts for kids
The goliath tigerfish (scientific name: Hydrocynus goliath) is a huge freshwater fish. It lives in Africa and is known for being a fierce hunter. People also call it the "giant tigerfish" or "mbenga." It belongs to a fish family called Alestidae.
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Where the Goliath Tigerfish Lives
The goliath tigerfish mainly lives in the Congo River Basin in Africa. This includes big rivers like the Lualaba River and lakes such as Lake Upemba. You can also find it in Lake Tanganyika.
Scientists studied the DNA of these fish in 2011. They found that there might be more types of tigerfish than we thought. This means the true H. goliath might only live in the Congo River area. Other similar tigerfish species might live in Lake Tanganyika.
What the Goliath Tigerfish Looks Like
This fish is very large and has huge teeth. It can grow up to 1.5 meters (about 5 feet) long. It can also weigh as much as 50 kilograms (about 110 pounds).
Its teeth are very sharp and fit into special grooves in its jaws. Each tooth can be about 2.5 centimeters (1 inch) long. The biggest goliath tigerfish ever recorded weighed an amazing 154 pounds (about 70 kilograms)!
What the Goliath Tigerfish Eats
The goliath tigerfish is a piscivore, which means it eats other fish. It will eat any fish it can catch and overpower. Sometimes, it even eats smaller goliath tigerfish.
When it hunts, this fish likes to hide in the calmer parts of the river. It waits in the quiet water near fast-moving rapids. It uses its excellent eyesight to spot its prey. Once it sees a target, it quickly speeds up to chase it down. The only animal known to hunt and eat adult goliath tigerfish is the Nile crocodile.
Goliath Tigerfish and Humans
There have been stories of goliath tigerfish attacking people in the Congo Basin. Because of these stories and its great strength, the fish has become almost a legend among people who like to fish. Many anglers call it the "greatest freshwater gamefish in the world."
