Table of Contents
Overview
Comprehensive Description
Biology
Forms shoals. An open water predator often found near the water surface (Ref. 13337). Feeds on fishes, preferring long bodied fish as they are easier to swallow and also takes insects, grass and snails (Ref. 13337). Cannibalistic. Preyed upon by fish eagle Haliaeetus vocifer (Ref. 13337). Breeding migrations have been reported up several tributaries of Lake Kariba during the rains (Ref. 13337). Affinities: H. vittatus.
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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. (Ref. 2880)
http://www.fishbase.org/references/FBRefSummary.php?id=2880&speccode=5229
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Distribution
Africa: Nile, Lake Albert [=Lake Mobutu Sese Seko], Lakes Turkana and Gandjule (Margherita), Senegal, Niger, Volta, Côte d'Ivoire, Guinea, Cameroon, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Ghana, Liberia, Benue, Omo, Gambia, Chad, Sierra Leone, Benin.
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Paugy, D. 1984 Characidae. p. 140-183. In J. Daget, J.-P. Gosse and D.F.E. Thys van den Audenaerde (eds.) Check-list of the freshwater fishes of Africa (CLOFFA). ORSTOM, Paris and MRAC, Tervuren. Vol. 1. (Ref. 5331)
http://www.fishbase.org/references/FBRefSummary.php?id=5331&speccode=11080
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Range Description
This species has a wider distribution area than other Hydrocynus species since it occurs in both, the savannah as well as the forested areas. It ranges from Senegal to Ethiopia, and Egypt to Uganda and Kenya.
Central Africa: Hydrocynus forskahlii is known from the Lower and Central Congo River basin and from Pool Malebo (Stanley Pool). The records from Lake Mweru are possibly Hydrocinus vittatus.
Eastern Africa: It is present in Lake Albert, the Albert and Murchison Niles, and Lake Turkana
Northern Africa: This species is found along the River Nile, and Lake Nasser (also known as Lake Nubia). The population used to increase during flood season before the construction of Aswan Dam.
Northeast Africa: It is known from the Ghazal and Jebel systems in Sudan, Tekeze and Setit in Eritrea, and the Rift lakes, and Baro and Omo Rivers, Ethiopia
Western Africa: In West Africa it is found in the basins of the Chad, Niger/Benue, Ogun, Ouémé, Mono, Volta, Comoé, Bandama, Sassandra, Nipoué (Cess), St. Paul, Mano, Little Scarcies, Gambia, and Senegal.
Central Africa: Hydrocynus forskahlii is known from the Lower and Central Congo River basin and from Pool Malebo (Stanley Pool). The records from Lake Mweru are possibly Hydrocinus vittatus.
Eastern Africa: It is present in Lake Albert, the Albert and Murchison Niles, and Lake Turkana
Northern Africa: This species is found along the River Nile, and Lake Nasser (also known as Lake Nubia). The population used to increase during flood season before the construction of Aswan Dam.
Northeast Africa: It is known from the Ghazal and Jebel systems in Sudan, Tekeze and Setit in Eritrea, and the Rift lakes, and Baro and Omo Rivers, Ethiopia
Western Africa: In West Africa it is found in the basins of the Chad, Niger/Benue, Ogun, Ouémé, Mono, Volta, Comoé, Bandama, Sassandra, Nipoué (Cess), St. Paul, Mano, Little Scarcies, Gambia, and Senegal.
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Physical Description
Size
Max. size
78.0 cm SL (male/unsexed; (Ref. 2880)); max. published weight: 15.5 kg (Ref. 13337); max. reported age: 4 years (Ref. 2757)
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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. (Ref. 2880)
http://www.fishbase.org/references/FBRefSummary.php?id=2880&speccode=5229
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Bell-Cross, G. and J.L. Minshull 1988 The fishes of Zimbabwe. National Museums and Monuments of Zimbabwe, Harare, Zimbabwe. 294 p. (Ref. 13337)
http://www.fishbase.org/references/FBRefSummary.php?id=13337&speccode=11874
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Srinn, K.Y. 1974 Biologie d' Hydrocynus forskalii du bassin tchadien. Thèse de 3ème cycle, Université Paul Sabatier, Toulouse. 126 p. (Ref. 2757)
http://www.fishbase.org/references/FBRefSummary.php?id=2757&speccode=4496
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Diagnostic Description
Slender profile. Eye
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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. (Ref. 2880)
http://www.fishbase.org/references/FBRefSummary.php?id=2880&speccode=5229
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Ecology
Habitat
Environment
pelagic; potamodromous (Ref. 51243); freshwater
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Riede, K. 2004 Global register of migratory species - from global to regional scales. Final Report of the R&D-Projekt 808 05 081. Federal Agency for Nature Conservation, Bonn, Germany. 329 p. (Ref. 51243)
http://www.fishbase.org/references/FBRefSummary.php?id=51243&speccode=4683
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Habitat and Ecology
Habitat and Ecology
Systems
Hydrocynus forskahlii is a pelagic, potamodromous species that forms shoals. It is an open water predator often found near the water surface (Bell-Cross and Minshull 1988) and feeds on fishes, preferring long bodied fish as they are easier to swallow and also takes insects, shrimps, grass and snails (Bell-Cross and Minshull 1988). This species is cannibalistic. It is preyed upon by fish eagle Haliaeetus vocifer (Bell-Cross and Minshull 1988). Breeding migrations have been reported up several tributaries of Lake Kariba during the rains (Bell-Cross and Minshull 1988). Spawning takes place most of the year.
Systems
- Freshwater
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Migration
Potamodromous. Migrating within streams, migratory in rivers, e.g. Saliminus, Moxostoma, Labeo. Migrations should be cyclical and predictable and cover more than 100 km.
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Riede, K. 2004 Global register of migratory species - from global to regional scales. Final Report of the R&D-Projekt 808 05 081. Federal Agency for Nature Conservation, Bonn, Germany. 329 p. (Ref. 51243)
http://www.fishbase.org/references/FBRefSummary.php?id=51243&speccode=4683
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Trophic Strategy
Feeds on fish and zoobenthos (Ref. 6160); primarily cichlid fishes, Hepsetus and small characid fishes (Ref. 30518).
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Hickley, P. and R.G. Bailey 1987 Food and feeding relationships of fish in the Sudd swamps (River Nile, southern Sudan). J. Fish Biol. 30:147-159. (Ref. 6160)
http://www.fishbase.org/references/FBRefSummary.php?id=6160&speccode=4496
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Diseases and Parasites
Annulotrema Infestation 3. Parasitic infestations (protozoa, worms, etc.)
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Khalil, L.F. and J.P. Thurston 1973 Studies on the helminth parasites of freshwater fishes of Uganda including the descriptions of two new species of digeneans. Rev. Zool. Bot. afr. 87(2):209-248. (Ref. 52494)
http://www.fishbase.org/references/FBRefSummary.php?id=52494&speccode=2405
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Annulotrema Infestation 2. Parasitic infestations (protozoa, worms, etc.)
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Khalil, L.F. and J.P. Thurston 1973 Studies on the helminth parasites of freshwater fishes of Uganda including the descriptions of two new species of digeneans. Rev. Zool. Bot. afr. 87(2):209-248. (Ref. 52494)
http://www.fishbase.org/references/FBRefSummary.php?id=52494&speccode=2405
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Annulotrema Infestation 1. Parasitic infestations (protozoa, worms, etc.)
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Khalil, L.F. and J.P. Thurston 1973 Studies on the helminth parasites of freshwater fishes of Uganda including the descriptions of two new species of digeneans. Rev. Zool. Bot. afr. 87(2):209-248. (Ref. 52494)
http://www.fishbase.org/references/FBRefSummary.php?id=52494&speccode=2405
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Molecular Biology and Genetics
Molecular Biology
Barcode data: Hydrocynus forskahlii
The following is a representative barcode sequence, the centroid of all available sequences for this species.
No available public DNA sequences.
Download FASTA File
No available public DNA sequences.
Download FASTA File
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Statistics of barcoding coverage: Hydrocynus forskahlii
Barcode of Life Data Systems (BOLDS) Stats
Public Records: 1
Specimens with Barcodes: 1
Species With Barcodes: 1
Public Records: 1
Specimens with Barcodes: 1
Species With Barcodes: 1
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Conservation
Conservation Status
IUCN Red List Assessment
Red List Category
LC
Least Concern
Red List Criteria
Version
3.1
Year Assessed
2010
Assessor/s
Akinyi, E., Azeroual, A., Entsua-Mensah, M., Getahun, A., Lalèyè, P., Moelants, T. & Twongo, T.
Reviewer/s
Snoeks, J., Tweddle, D., Getahun, A., Lalèyè, P., Paugy, D., Zaiss, R., Fishar, M.R.A & Brooks, E.
Contributor/s
Justification
This species has a wide distribution, with no known major widespread threats. It is therefore listed as Least Concern. It has also been assessed regionally as Least Concern for central, eastern, northern, north eastern and western Africa.
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Trends
Population
Population
Population Trend
Limited information available. Commonly found in Ethiopia, Eritrea and Sudan
Population Trend
Unknown
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Threats
Least Concern (LC)
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IUCN 2006 2006 IUCN red list of threatened species. www.iucnredlist.org. Downloaded July 2006.
http://www.fishbase.org/references/FBRefSummary.php?id=57073
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Major Threats
Bad agricultural practices in areas around the Volta may pose potential threats to this fish species. Increased sediments and levels of pesticides, fertilizers and other agrochemicals can harmfully impact the ecosystems, and negatively affect the fish. Other potential problems include aquatic weeds and pollution from inadequately treated human waste. It is a commercially important fish species with heavy fishing pressure. In northern Africa, dams, water pollution (agriculture, domestic and commercial/industrial), groundwater extraction and drought pose possible threats.
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Management
Conservation Actions
Conservation Actions
There is a conservation policy in place in Ghana (Inland fisheries policy; Wetlands Management Strategy). More research is needed into this species population numbers and range, biology and ecology, habitat status and threats, as well as monitoring and potential conservation measures.
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Relevance to Humans and Ecosystems
Benefits
Importance
fisheries: commercial; gamefish: yes
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Bell-Cross, G. and J.L. Minshull 1988 The fishes of Zimbabwe. National Museums and Monuments of Zimbabwe, Harare, Zimbabwe. 294 p. (Ref. 13337)
http://www.fishbase.org/references/FBRefSummary.php?id=13337&speccode=11874
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Trewavas, E. and F.R. Irvine 1947 Fresh-water fishes. p. 221-282. In F.R. Irvine (ed.) The fishes and fisheries of the Gold Coast. The Crown Agents for the Colonies, London. 352 p. (Ref. 11235)
http://www.fishbase.org/references/FBRefSummary.php?id=11235&speccode=5240
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