Africa's waterways are home to some formidable aquatic species. These water-based animals come in all shapes and sizes, some obvious, and some less so. They are found in a range of aquatic African habitats from coastal ecosystems, to rivers, estuaries, lakes, and swamps.
Nigeria, with its vast coastline and rivers, is a haven for fish lovers. The country's waters are teeming with a variety of fish species that are not only a staple in the Nigerian diet but also a part of the nation's rich cultural heritage. Not only that, Nigerians have mastered the art of preserving fish through smoking, drying, and salting, ensuring that these aquatic treasures can be savored year-round.
Fish are an excellent source of omega-3 fatty acids, proteins, and vitamins.
Popular Fish Species in Nigeria
Here's a look at some of the fish species you might find in Nigeria:
- Panla Fish (Hake): Also known as Hake, Panla fish is a soft, white, and flaky delight. Panla Fish is a common sight in Lagos markets. It's a long, thin fish that resembles a sardine and is often sold smoked in sets.
- Stockfish: A Norwegian import, Stockfish is unsalted fish, typically cod, dried by cold air and wind. It holds a place of pride in Nigerian cuisine, adding a depth of flavor to dishes. Stockfish Hake is typically cod but can also be other species like pollock or haddock.
- Tilapia: Tilapia is a farm-friendly fish that graces many Nigerian tables. Tilapia is one of the most exploited inland water fish species in Sub-Saharan Africa, supporting livelihoods and providing vital food security.
- Catfish: Nigeria is the world's largest producer of African catfish, which is central to many local dishes. Catfish is big business in Nigeria, with a vast number of producers and employees in the sector. Known for its adaptability and quick maturation.
- Abo (Sole Fish): Abo, or Sole fish, is known for its delicate texture.
- Asa: Asa, a prized catch from Southern Nigeria's freshwaters, is an electric fish known for its shiny skin and firm flesh. It's typically dried using the mangala technique.
- Mackerel (Titus Fish): In Nigeria, Mackerel, or 'Titus fish', is a favorite. It's an oily fish that's often grilled or used in stews for its rich, savory taste. It is a common pelagic fish from the family Scombridae and is popular for its tastiness and nutrient content.
- Croaker: Croaker is a white fish that's either grilled or fried to perfection. Croaker Fish is popular in Nigeria for its distinct taste and nutritional richness and is used in a variety of local and continental dishes.
- Shawa: Known locally as Shawa, this fish is a staple in Nigerian diets. It is caught off the southern Nigerian coast and delicately dried. It's known for its flaky texture and subtle flavor and is rich in antioxidants, vitamin D, and protein.
- Red Snapper: The Red Snapper is recognizable by its vivid reddish hue and unique physical profile, found at depths of 30 to 620 feet in warm waters, and can live up to 57 years, growing to significant sizes. It is a premium fish often enjoyed fried or baked.
For those in the US or Canada longing for the familiar taste of Nigerian fish, MySasun African Market brings it right to your doorstep. Explore a wide range of authentic Nigerian fish varieties - fresh, flavorful, and carefully sourced to give you the true taste of home.
Read also: Experience Fad's Fine African Cuisine
Red Snapper
Dangerous and Powerful Aquatic Animals in Africa
Among the most powerful and dangerous water animals in Africa are the Nile crocodile, the hippopotamus, and the great white shark. Here are some of the most notable:
- Nile Crocodile: Distributed widely throughout Africa, the Nile crocodile is a relic from the age of the dinosaurs. Expertly adapted to aquatic habitats around slow-flowing rivers, estuaries, and lakes, Nile crocodiles have remained unchanged for millions of years. The largest of all reptiles, Nile crocodiles have a sedentary lifestyle, slow metabolism, gastric juices capable of dissolving meat, bone, hair, and hoof, as well as a bite force of over 20,000 newtons, all adding together to make them one of the most effective predators in Africa. Adults can reach over 5 meters and weigh close to 1,000 kg. When the great wildebeest migration crosses the Mara River in Kenya, Nile crocodiles are on hand to take advantage and offer some of the best crocodile action in Africa.
- Hippopotamus: They are in fact, the third largest land mammal in the world after the African elephant and the white rhinoceros. Considered semi-aquatic, hippos spend much of their daytime hours wallowing in shallow water to protect their sensitive skins. Ironically, hippos cannot swim. At night, hippos leave the water to graze on grass and other greenery. Weighing upwards of 3 tons, hippos are fast runners over short distances and have been recorded running at up to 30 kph / 19 mph.
- Killer Whale (Orca): The largest member of the oceanic dolphin family, the killer whale, or Orcinus orca, is a magnificent and highly intelligent marine mammal found in oceans worldwide. Known as the wolves of the sea, killer whales have distinctive black and white colouration. These apex predators have a diverse diet that includes fish, seals, other whales, and even great white sharks. Despite their name, killer whales do not typically threaten humans in the wild.
- Great White Shark: Great white sharks can exceed 20 feet in length and weigh over 2,000 kg / 5,000 pounds. Despite their ferocious reputation, white sharks do not target humans but rather prey on seals. False Bay in Cape Town is where white sharks have been filmed breaching as seen in the BBC’s Planet Earth documentary series, and a white shark diving industry has sprung up around Gansbaai.
- Zambezi Shark: Renowned for its adaptability, the Zambezi shark is one of the few shark species capable of thriving in both salt and freshwater. It is found in the Zambezi River and other waterways along the eastern and southern coasts of Africa, as far south as the Breede River in the Western Cape where one shark was caught 7 km upriver. With a robust build and a reputation for aggressive behaviour, the Zambezi shark is known to enter brackish and freshwater systems, posing potential human risks.
- Southern Right Whales: Southern right whales are known for their large size, reaching lengths of up to 18 meters and weighing as much as 100 tons. Their diet mainly consists of small crustaceans, plankton, and krill. With a distinctive V-shaped blow and callosities on its head, these gentle giants inhabit the southern hemisphere oceans.
- Goliath Tigerfish: The goliath tigerfish (Hydrocynus goliath), is native to the Congo River basin in Central Africa. Growing to an impressive 1,5 meters in length and with rows of crocodile-like teeth, the goliath tiger fish is one of the most terrifying-looking fish in Africa. In African folklore of the Congo Basin, the goliath tiger fish is called M’benga and is thought to be possessed by an evil spirit.
- Electric Catfish: Inhabiting Africa’s freshwater environments from the Nile River through the Buzi Niger, Ogooué, Omo, Sanaga, Sabi-Lundi, Senegal, Shari, Zaïre and Zambezi River basins, as well as Lakes Albert, Chad, Kainji, Tanganyika and Turkana. This fascinating catfish uses electric organs to navigate, communicate, locate and stun prey. Although not typically aggressive towards humans, encountering these catfish requires caution and respect for their extraordinary capabilities.
- Nile Perch: The Nile perch is known for its impressive size, voracious appetite, and significant economic value. The Nile perch can reach a maximum length of nearly 2 m / 6 ft 7 in, and weigh up to 200 kg, making it one of Africa’s most powerful freshwater fish species.
- Mbu Puffer Fish: Starting with number 10 on our list of the most dangerous and powerful aquatic animals in Africa is the evil-eye puffer fish, also known as the Mbu puffer. This ubiquitous aquatic creature is found in the coastal waters of Africa. Despite its charming appearance, the evil-eye puffer fish contains a neurotoxin called tetrodotoxin, particularly in its skin and internal organs, that can be fatal if ingested.
Although this is not a complete list it gives you a sense of the water animals to watch out for while in Africa. As you can see many of them are fish species and several of the animals listed are more powerful than dangerous.
Other Notable African Fish Species
Here are some additional fish species found in Africa that are worth knowing about:
Read also: The Story Behind Cachapas
- African Pompano: The African Pompano is a tropical fish that is found worldwide. Also known as the pennant-fish or threadfin trevally, the African Pompano, (Alectis ciliaris), is a widely distributed tropical marine fish in the Jack family, Carangidae. The species is found in most tropical waters worldwide. The African Pompano inhabits the tropical waters of the world. They prefer water temperatures between 65º F and 80º F and are most often found in coastal waterways. They have been caught on the east and west coast of the US, South America, and Africa. The adult African Pompano is very similar in appearance to the other members of the Genus Alectis, where a trained eye is needed to separate the three. However the juveniles are easily identified due to their long, filamentous dorsal and anal fin tips, which are thought to discourage predators. The species reside in depths less than 100 m (328 ft). This species is of minor economic importance and often taken amongst other tropical mid water fishes by hook and line while juveniles are occasionally caught in beach seines. It is considered one of the strongest Jacks and highly rated game fish. The African Pompano is an awesome fighter with a swift, powerful strike.
- West African Lungfish: West African lungfish are prehistoric animals. They have survived unchanged for so long (nearly 400 million years) that they are sometimes nicknamed “living fossils.” West African lungfish have remarkable adaptations that have helped them survive: a primitive lung and the ability to survive in a state of estivation, which is similar to hibernation. A lungfish’s lung is a biological adaptation. A biological adaptation is a physical change in an organism that develops over time. Like all fish, lungfish have organs known as gills to extract oxygen from water. The biological adaptation of the lung allows lungfish to also extract oxygen from the air. A lungfish’s estivation also involves a number of biological adaptations, including the excretion of a mucus “cocoon” and digestion of the fish’s own muscle tissue to obtain nutrients. A lungfish’s estivation also includes a behavioral adaptation. A behavioral adaptation describes a way an organism acts. Prior to estivation, lungfish furiously burrow into the muddy ground. The behavioral adaptation of burrowing allows lungfish to create a protected habitat where they can survive during a long period of dormancy.
- African Tigerfish: African tigerfish use their large, razor-sharp teeth to tear through prey. They eat whichever fish species is most abundant and have also been seen leaping out of the water to snag birds in flight during summer months. Coloration is silver overall with dark lines running through. Mouth has eight razor-sharp teeth per jaw used for tearing through prey. Common length of 3.5 feet (1.1 m), with a maximum weight of 62 lbs. Participates in the spawning migration upstream. Have been known to leap out of the water to eat barn swallows flying over the water.
The Fish That Breathes Air
West African Lungfish
Creating a West African Biotope Aquarium
Africa is covered in vast savannas and rainforests, but don’t forget the fast rushing streams, sluggish deltas and river basins, rapid rivers, and stagnant lakes. Each of these regions are home to their own ecosystems and amazing wildlife; keeping an aquarium gives us an opportunity to recreate these natural biomes thousands of miles away from their native locations. This is the beauty of a biotope aquarium, it conveys a community of fish and plants that naturally occur in the same region in the wild. This can be as specific as recreating a specific river or lake, or as broad as bringing together the wildlife of a whole continent.
West Africa is commonly overlooked by the diverse cichlids of East Africa and the Rift Lakes, but it contains some of the most beautiful aquarium fish and plants in the trade.
Fish Species for a West African Biotope Aquarium
- African Butterfly Fish: The African Butterfly Fish are named after their unique pelvic fins that make the fish look like a butterfly from above. These highly specialized predators remain mostly still on the top of the aquarium or, in the wild, towards the top of the Congo Basin where they hunt small fish and insects. They remain still so as to not scare away potential prey. In the home aquarium the African Butterfly gets up to five inches and will accept frozen brine, bloodworms and occasionally flakes.
- Kribensis: Kribensis are a species of dwarf cichlids known for their hardiness and simplicity to breed. In the wild, Kribensis are found in the shallow and densely vegetated deltas of Cameroon and the Niger Delta and Niger River. Kribensis have adapted to a wide range of hardness and pH traveling between the hard and alkaline Niger Delta and softer waters of the Niger River, making them very hardy fish for the home aquaria. Along with being hardy, Kribensis are easy to sex and eager to breed. The females have a bright pink stomachs, especially when they’re ready to breed, and the males have pointed dorsal and anal fins.
- African Knifefish: African Knifefish are a species of knifefish found in many river basins and deltas all across West Africa, including the Congo Basin, Chad River Basin, Niger Delta, Ogooue River Basin and more. In general, African Knife Fish are found in the hard and alkaline but stagnant waters of West Africa. In the wild, the carnivorous African Knife uses its electrical fields to hunt down prey at night; in aquariums the African Knife will accept fresh brine or daphnia and frozen bloodworms. African Knives will eat smaller fish that fit in their mouths, so even though they only reach eight inches in captivity, be sure to only mix them with fish that are too large to be swallowed.
- Congo Tetras: The Congo Basin is home to many kinds of Congo Tetras, most notably the Rainbow Congo Tetra. The Rainbow Congo Tetras are named after the bright rainbow color stripe they display. All Congo Tetras are brightly colored schooling fish, they form tight, active and brightly colored schools that dart back and forth across the Congo Basin or the home aquarium. In the wild, Congo Tetras are omnivorous and enjoy insects, plant matter, worms, algae and more, but in the home aquarium they readily accept flakes and pellets.
- Synodontis Catfish: Synodontis is a genus of catfish endemic to Africa. They are also known as Squeakers or Upside Down Cats, named after their peculiar habit of swimming upside-down to feed off of floating or submerged logs. These catfish can be found all across West Africa, in the Senegal River, the Niger Delta, the Congo Basin, Lower Congo River and more. Each species has a distinct pattern, Synodontis eupterus is gray with intricate stripes and spots, Synodontis angelicus is black with bright white or yellow spots, and Synodontis brichardi has bright black and white stripes. There are hundreds of species of Synodontis, and they are all endemic to Africa. They are generally omnivorous and accept flakes, sinking pellets and bloodworms, but the maximum size varies from species to species. Overall, most species aren’t aggressive except with other Synodontis species and occasionally other catfish.
- Leopard Ctenapoma (Bushfish): Leopard Ctenapoma, or Bushfish inhabit the Congo Basin and slow moving rivers and streams throughout the Central African Republic. They are ambush predators, hiding in the vegetation until they can attack their prey. In the aquarium, Leopard Ctenopomas will accept pellets, flakes, bloodworms, daphnia, brine shrimp and the occasional ghost shrimp! The leopard patterning on these fish is actually expert camouflage and keeps them hidden from prey and bigger predators, while also making them beautiful aquarium fish.
Plants for a West African Biotope Aquarium
- Anubias are low light plants and are widespread throughout the aquarium trade.
- Aponogetons are bulb plants that have huge beautiful leaves. All Aponogetons go through a dormant period once a year where they lose their leaves, but they will soon regrow their leaves even better than before.
- Crinum calamistratum is a hardy bulb plant from West Africa, with tightly crinkled leaves extending from the bulb.
- Golden Nesea is an easy way to add color to a planted tank, it has bright red stems and golden leaves. As a stem plant, trimmings of Golden Nesea can be re-planted to form a new plant.
- Water Lettuce is a beautiful floating plants that is amazing at keeping aquariums clean, they have long intricate roots underwater and soft overlapping above the water.
Overall, West Africa is an extremely biodiverse region with highly specialized predators, fast moving schools, colorful dwarf cichlids, and a biotope would be an amazing way to connect with the beautiful and biodiverse habitats of West Africa. If you’d like help assembling a display for the wildlife of West Africa, all of these fish and plants are available at absolutelyfishnaturals.com, or an associate at Absolutely Fish can show you everything you would need.
Read also: Techniques of African Jewellery
| Fish Species | Habitat | Diet | Unique Feature |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nile Crocodile | Slow-flowing rivers, estuaries, lakes | Meat, bone, hair, hoof | Strongest bite force |
| Hippopotamus | Shallow water | Grass and greenery | Cannot swim |
| Great White Shark | Oceans worldwide | Seals | Apex predator |
| African Pompano | Tropical waters worldwide | Mid-water fishes | Strong fighter |
| West African Lungfish | Muddy ground | Muscle tissue | Survives in estivation |
| African Tigerfish | Fast rushing streams | Other fish species | Razor-sharp teeth |
