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Where Does African Tigerfish Live?

Hydrocynus vittatus

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African Tigerfish lives in specific habitats. Knowing where to look helps you find and identify it.

Where to find African Tigerfish

Water type
freshwater
Depth
Typically found in surface to mid-water columns, but can inhabit deeper areas of large rivers and lakes.
Environment
Large rivers, lakes, and floodplains. Prefers well-oxygenated, flowing water with clear to moderately turbid conditions. Often associated with areas offering ambush cover such as submerged vegetation, fallen trees, or rocky outcrops, but also hunts in open water.
Geographic range
Widespread across sub-Saharan Africa. Found in major river systems including the Zambezi, Congo, Limpopo, Nile, and Orange River basins, as well as Lake Kariba, Lake Tanganyika, and Lake Albert. Its distribution extends from West Africa to East and Southern Africa.

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