First observation of African tigerfish Hydrocynus vittatus predating on barn swallows Hirundo rustica in flight

Abstract

A population of African tigerfish Hydrocynus vittatus from the Schroda Dam, actively prey on barn swallows Hirundo rustica in flight. This behaviour was discovered during a radio telemetry study and documented using a motion picture video camera. These results show that an avivorous diet is a part of the feeding biology of H. vittatus, and may occur in other populations.

Fish and amphibians as bat predators

“…Glegg 1945;Oatley 1960). O'Brien et al (2014) reported 20 cases of successful predation on swallow Hirundo rustica by tigerfish Hydrocynus vittatus. Among bats, similar case of predation was described by Börk (2006) who observed one attempted capture of large fish on N. leporinus when skimming over water surface.…”

“…Although, there are most probably no specialised fish or amphibian bat predators, diversity of their feeding strategies and wide geographical distribution indicates that bats can at least occasionally fall prey to them. Specially, if we consider the fact that numerous larger fishes and amphibians are known to supplement their diet by preying on terrestrial vertebrates such as lizards, birds and mammals (Gregg 1945;Lowe et al 1996;Merritt 2014;O'Brien et al 2014;Schalk et al 2014). Moreover, some fishes are even able to catch flying vertebrates such as birds on wing when skimming over the water surface (O'Brien et al 2014) and can thus represent risk for therein foraging or drinking bats.…”

Ballistic Beloniformes attacking through Snell's Window

“…Furthermore, the lensing effect of surface waves is apparent in the bottom right of the photograph. Katzir & Intrator, 1987;Lotem et al, 1991), archer fishes (Toxotidae) (Dill, 1977;Timmermans & Vossen, 2000) and tigerfish Hydrocynus vittatus Castelnau 1861 (O'Brien et al, 2014)]. Needlefish aerial attacks, however, are both originated and completed underwater, obviating the need for any correction for refraction.…”

“…This holds true particularly for predators that locate their prey through the water's surface [ e.g . piscivorous birds (Brown et al ., ; Katzir & Intrator, ; Lotem et al ., ), archer fishes (Toxotidae) (Dill, ; Timmermans & Vossen, ) and tigerfish Hydrocynus vittatus Castelnau 1861 (O'Brien et al ., )]. Needlefish aerial attacks, however, are both originated and completed underwater, obviating the need for any correction for refraction.…”

“…Fishes have demonstrated the ability to deal with the complexities of predation through the air–water interface (Dill, ; Timmermans & Vossen, ; O'Brien et al ., ), and utilize Snell's Window, either to let in light to illuminate prey underwater (Janssen, ; Thetmeyer & Kils, ) or as an escape route from predators (Davenport, ), suggesting that it is certainly possible for needlefishes to make use of the optical phenomenon of Snell's Window. The occurrence of related predation‐avoidance and predation‐facilitation behaviours in two families within the same order may indicate that the surface‐living exocoetoids, with their strong leaping ability, are uniquely positioned to take advantage of this effect.…”