Tigerfish

Diagnosis: elongated and very streamlined shape; body in cross-section more rounded than congenerics; frequently exhibits a horizontal stripe (Ref. 55949).Description: large, rather cylindrical species with very slender body; lower jaw very deep with smooth surface; teeth short, straight and widely-spaced, generally not visible when the mouth is closed (Ref. 55949).Coloration: countershaded, dark grey dorsally usually with a blue metallic iridescence in life; usually with an indistinct dark horizontal stripe on the flanks; pelvic and anal fins either grey-white or orange; sometimes 2-9 orange-yellow eggspots on anal fin (Ref. 55949).

Inhabits the open water (Ref. 5595). Widely distributed in shelf and rocky reef zones, usually where the bottom is fairly shallow; rarely found offshore; small juveniles widely distributed in the littoral zone in swampy, sandy and rocky habitats; adults regularly encountered near sandy beaches in the shallows (Ref. 55949). Feeds on fish species like the small Utaka and the lake sardine Usipa (Engraulicypris sardella) (Ref. 5595).

aquarium: commercial

Rhamphochromis esox is a species of cichlid endemic to Lake Malawi where it prefers open waters at depths of from 2 to 65 metres (6.6 to 213.3 ft). This fish is piscivore. This species can reach a length of 42 centimetres (17 in) SL. It can also be found in the aquarium trade.