Big tiger fish Goliath: a ferocious predator of the Congo River. Goliath or big tiger fish African tiger fish

Big tiger fish (lat. Hydrocynus goliath) - the most major representative order Characinformes (Characiformes). Belongs to the African tetra family (Alestidae). It is also known under the names giant hydrocin and goliath fish. Its weight can reach 70 kg, and its fang-like teeth can cause serious injury.

Africans claim that she is not afraid of crocodiles and often attacks people, tearing pieces of meat out of their bodies.

In some villages, local men never swim naked, fearing an unexpected meeting with a bloodthirsty monster, and Europeans are advised to use tight swimming trunks and swimsuits.

Spreading

This species is found in a limited area in the western and central regions. Democratic Republic Congo and northern Zambia. It inhabits the waters of the Congo River and its tributaries, as well as the freshwater lakes Upemba and Tanganyika, where there are areas with a relatively fast current.

In other regions of Africa, goliath fish has not yet been found. 4 related species belonging to the genus Hydrocynus are more common. They have similar features and behavior, but are inferior to the monster of the Congo River in size. All of them are attracted by warm reservoirs with muddy and oxygenated water.

Behavior

The giant hydrocine is distinguished by its wild disposition and incredible voracity. He eats everything he can catch. The basis of its diet is tetras of the genera Brycinus and Micralestes, living in the upper and middle layers of water bodies, and barbs from the Cyprinidae family. On Lake Tanganyika, the Tanganyin lake sardine dominates the menu.

Predator uses various methods hunting. Young growth most often gathers in flocks and with its habits resembles piranhas. Adults usually hunt from ambush, making lightning-fast throws towards the victim. They are able to jump out of the water and grab low-flying birds on the fly or wait for small mammals that have come to the watering hole.

In 2014, biologists from Northwestern University in Potchefstroom (South Africa) managed to capture on video how giant hydrocynes skillfully catch swallows flying over the water surface, jumping out of the water to a height of up to 2 m.

Despite their bloodthirstiness, large tiger fish are quite shy and afraid of the presence of large animals. They soberly assess their strengths and do not try to put themselves in danger once again. As a rule, having noticed a person, they hide and try not to betray their presence.

For this reason, sport fishing for these monsters is considered very prestigious, but rarely successful. Trophies are hooked by chance and away from public fishing grounds.

Goliath fish is dangerous mainly for young children.

Cases of attacks on adults are rare and, according to Africans, are associated with the instillation of the evil spirit Mbenga into it. Ichthyologists with rational thinking associate them simply with the deterioration of the sight of the river monster, because of which he loses the ability to correctly determine the dimensions of his potential victim.

The prey is swallowed whole. If this fails, then it is torn into small pieces. Leading role in hunting and orientation in aquatic environment plays the lateral line, a sensitive organ that runs from the gill slits to the base of the tail.

Reliable information about the reproduction of Hydrocynus goliath in vivo no.

Description

The average body length is 132 cm and weight 30 kg. The maximum length is 180 cm. The body is elongated and spindle-shaped, with age the dorsal part rises up due to the development of the adipose fin. The head is large and massive. The eyes are large, providing excellent vision. Sexual dimorphism is weakly expressed. Males are slightly larger than females.

The color is predominantly bluish. The back is darker than the abdomen. Stripes along the body are weakly visible or absent altogether. The tail fin is large and forked. In young individuals, it is pink or has a red border. The lower jaw protrudes forward.

In the mouth there are 32 sharp needle-shaped triangular teeth, the sides of which are sharp as blades. Their length reaches 3.5 cm. There are two articulations in the upper jaw, allowing the mouth to be opened very widely.

Large tiger fish are found in marine pools. In Paris, it can be seen in the Tropical Aquarium in the Port-Dore Palace. Pleasure will cost 19.5 euros.

Feeding is carried out with the help of special tweezers only with live fish 3-4 times a week. It has not yet been possible to breed in captivity.

The Congo is the deepest river on the planet, the second in the world (after the Amazon) in terms of full flow and length, which is approximately 4700 km. The only waterway that crosses the equator twice in its rich basin has a large number of diverse representatives of African flora and fauna: more than 20 species of small fish and about 875 large varieties. large crocodiles, small turtles and snakes - far from full list inhabitants of such a chic reserve. About 250 species of them are rare, and most are simply unknown to science.

Congo - the river that sheltered the monster

Due to the strong current, it is a kind of evolutionary boiler that contributes to the isolation of fish in certain sectors. This is due to the impotence of the latter before the power of the current. This forced isolation contributes to the emergence of a large number of unusual representatives of the animal world. The only individual that feels comfortable in the frantic game of the current is the goliath tiger fish, a water monster that inspires fear and awe.

The river flow itself carries potential victims into its mouth, unable to resist the power of the water element.

The fish got its name from giant size, which the great warrior Goliath was famous for, who had a height of 2 m 89 cm. And “tiger” is called her for the horizontally located dark stripes on the sides of the body. The large goliath tiger fish was first described in 1861. The African inhabitant is most often found in and in the rivers of the Congo, Nile, Senegal, Omo. - the most comfortable habitat for the river giant. It can lead a flock of life with individuals of its own species or predators similar to itself. Males are an order of magnitude larger than females.

Goliath: description of a predator

Tiger fish goliath with a strong oblong body, covered with large silvery scales, and small pointed fins (red or bright orange) has all the qualities that are unique to a predator:

• Length - up to 2 meters.
• Weight - 50 kg and more.
• Lifespan: 12 - 15 years.
• Very large head with large mouth.
• 32 teeth, sharpened like a razor, with which the goliath tiger fish grabs and tears the victim without even chewing it. Over the course of a lifetime, new teeth grow in place of missing teeth.
• Excellent hearing, as well as the ability to feel prey by low-frequency vibrations.
• The ability to move easily in rough waters.

Goliath tiger fish: what does it eat

AT natural environment the fish is omnivorous, its main food is fish and small mammals, although plant foods and detritus are also included in the diet of the river monster, which, in its bloodthirstiness, can compete with the Amazonian piranha.

During periods of hunger attacks, the goliath is able to attack a person, and sometimes does not shun crocodiles; in nature, these cases have been recorded.

In nature, female goliath tiger fish spawn for only a few days during the rainy season (December - January). Migrating from large rivers to small tributaries, females lay large amounts of eggs among dense vegetation in shallow places. For hatched fry initial period life is more than comfortable, it is shallow water, warm water and an abundance of food. Over time, grown-up individuals are taken out into major rivers.

Hunting a monster is a matter of honor

Goliath tiger fish is one of the most terrible freshwater fish in the world, therefore in Africa fishing for it is extremely popular among the local population, it can be compared with a successful bear hunt in the taiga.

For every angler, such fishing is a real adventure, turning a dangerous predator into an unfortunate victim and a desirable prey, for which anglers from all over the world come to the banks of the Congo River to hunt.

The goliath tiger fish is the most feared freshwater fish in the world, so it is quite difficult to catch this giant, as it can bite through any thickness of fishing line with its sharp teeth. Knowledgeable anglers use special leashes that are made of very durable steel. Only in this way can you fish out a giant from its habitat and get to know it on land.

Jeremy Wade, an expert on freshwater fish and the host of the River Monsters program, who fishes with early years. For his 52 years, having managed to visit the most different points the globe, he always brought unusual representatives of the river fauna from there.

For more than a week, the hunter plowed the hard-to-reach places of the river, for which he was rewarded with a long-awaited catch. A giant weighing 70 kg and 1.5 meters long fell into his hands.

The photo of the goliath tiger fish in Jeremy's hands is admirable for the experience and fearlessness of this brave man.

What do you think is scarier than piranhas? freshwater rivers there is not anyone? Then get acquainted: a big tiger fish or a giant hydrocin (lat. Hydrocynus goliath) is a larger version of the bloodthirsty Amazonian predator.

The length of her body reaches one and a half meters with a weight of about 50 kg - piranhas never dreamed of such dimensions! At the same time, the mouth of a tiger fish is filled with 32 large and sharp fangs, thanks to which it can even attack crocodiles. Yes, yes, this is a real killing machine, which all the inhabitants of the Congo River and lakes Tanganyika and Upemba are afraid of, where this river monster.

Of course, the giant hydrocine is not as bloodthirsty as the piranha, but this does not make it any easier for its prey. He feeds on smaller river and lake inhabitants, who have the misfortune to come across him on the way. Particularly unlucky is a small fish called kamba, which hydrocin considers his dessert.

It is not so easy to escape from a strong and agile tiger fish: it has a habit of swimming against the current, devouring weaker fish along the way, which cannot cope with the powerful flow of the Congo River. In addition, she reacts with lightning speed to a sudden movement nearby or a splash of water, and is even able to pick up the low-frequency vibrations of her victims. So they don't stand a chance.

However, the big tiger fish got its name not only for its predatory disposition. On the sides of her body are horizontal dark stripes that make her color look like a brindle. The fins are most often orange or red, and during the breeding season their color becomes especially bright. Interestingly, male big tiger fish are usually much larger than females.

As for the Latin name - Hydrocynus goliath - the fish received it solely due to its gigantic growth. After all, it is known that the Philistine warrior Goliath was the largest and strongest among his fellow tribesmen - his height reached 2 m 89 cm. And although the big tiger fish cannot boast of such dimensions, it still received the name of a warrior.

But the locals call her Mbenga. They often talk about cases of attacks on careless fishermen: she bit off his finger, injured his hand. It is quite natural that the natives do not really like to mess with her.

Whether it's the Europeans - just let them catch someone bigger. Briton Jeremy Wade - the host of the "River Monsters" program on the Animal Planet TV channel - even went to the very wilds of the Congo River for this, where he spent 8 days waiting for a good catch. Of course, he was not there alone, but in the company of his assistants - the film crew of the program.

If anyone was supposed to catch the giant hydrocine, it would be Jeremy. After all, he is engaged in fishing with early childhood and for his 52 years he managed to visit different parts of the globe, bringing from there the most unusual representatives of the river fauna.

Finally, luck turned to face a desperate fisherman: he managed to catch a big tiger fish. Yes, not simple, but one of the largest representatives of the species: the length of her body was 1.5 m, and her weight was as much as 70 kg. Great fish trophy!

Goliath fish (lat. Hydrocynus goliath) or large tiger fish is one of the most unusual freshwater fish, a real river monster, the appearance of which makes you shudder.

Its Latin name speaks best of all. The word hydrocynus means "water dog" and goliath "giant" and all can be translated as giant water dog.

And her teeth, huge, sharp fangs speak of her character. This is a large, ferocious, toothy fish with a powerful body covered with large, silvery scales, sometimes with a golden tint.

Habitat in nature

The first large tiger fish was described in 1861. It lives throughout Africa, from Egypt to South Africa. Most often found in the Senegal River, Nile, Omo, Congo and Lake Tanganyika.

This big fish prefers to live in big rivers and lakes. Large individuals prefer to live in schools with fish of their own species or similar predators.

These are greedy and insatiable predators, they hunt fish, various animals living in the water and even crocodiles.

Cases of goliath tiger fish attacks on humans have been recorded, but this was done, most likely, by mistake.

In Africa, fishing for goliath fish is extremely popular among both local residents as well as entertainment for tourists.

Description

African big tiger fish can reach a body length of 150 cm and weigh up to 50 kg. Size data is constantly different, but this is understandable, the fishermen can not boast.

However, these are record specimens even for nature, and in an aquarium it is much smaller, usually no more than 75 cm. Its life expectancy is about 12-15 years.

It has a strong, elongated body with small, pointed fins. Most impressive in appearance goliath fish is a head: large, with a very large mouth, with large, sharp teeth, 8 on each jaw.

They serve to grab and tear the victim, and not to chew and fall out during life, but new ones grow in their place.

Difficulty in content

Goliaths definitely cannot be called a fish for home aquarium, contain them only in commercial or species aquariums.

In fact, they are not difficult to maintain, but their size and voracity make them almost inaccessible to amateurs. Although, juveniles can be kept in a regular aquarium, however, they grow very quickly and will need to be disposed of further.

The fact is that in nature, a giant hydrocin grows up to 150 cm and can weigh about 50 kg. One look at her teeth and you immediately understand that such a fish eats far from vegetation.

It is active and dangerous predator, it looks like another well-known predator -, but unlike it is much larger. With its huge teeth, it can tear out entire chunks of flesh from the body of its victims.

Feeding

In nature, tigerfish mainly feed on fish and small mammals, although this does not mean that they do not eat plant foods and detritus.

With such dimensions, they do not disdain anything. So it's more of an omnivorous fish.

In the aquarium, you need to feed it with live fish, minced meat, shrimp, fish fillets. At first, they eat only live food, but as they acclimatize, they switch to frozen and even artificial.

Juveniles even eat flakes, but as they grow, it is necessary to switch to pellets and granules. However, if they are often fed live food, they start to refuse others, so the diet should be mixed.

Goliath is a very large and predatory fish, which is obvious. Due to its size and the habit of sexually mature individuals to live in a flock, they need a very large aquarium.

2000-3000 liters is the minimum. Add to this a very powerful filtration system and a duct, as the manner of feeding with tearing the victim apart does not contribute to the purity of the water.

In addition, tiger fish live in rivers with powerful current and loves the current in the aquarium.

As for the decor, as a rule, everything is done with large snags, stones and sand. This fish is somehow not conducive to creating green landscapes. Yes, and for living she needs a lot of free space.

The nature of the goliath fish is not necessarily aggressive, but it has a very serious appetite, and not many neighbors will be able to survive in an aquarium with it.

It is best to keep them in a species tank alone, or with other large and protected fish of the type.

Sex differences

Males are larger and more massive than females.

Breeding

It is easy to guess that they are not bred in an aquarium, mostly the fry are caught in natural reservoirs and grown.

In nature, they spawn for only a few days, during the rainy season, in December or January. To do this, they migrate from large rivers to small tributaries.

The female lays a large amount of eggs in shallow places, among dense vegetation.

Thus, hatched fry live in warm water, among the abundance of food, and over time, they are carried into large rivers.