title: 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.
authors.affiliation: Water Research Group (Ecology), Unit of Environmental Sciences and Management, North-West University, Private Bag X6001, Potchefstroom, 2520, South Africa.
authors.forename: G C
authors.initials: GC
authors.lastname: O'Brien
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Jacobs
authors.forename: S W
authors.initials: SW
authors.lastname: Evans
authors.forename: N J
authors.initials: NJ
authors.lastname: Smit
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D060125:Characiformes / Q000502:physiology*; D005426:Flight, Animal; D011235:Predatory Behavior; D013019:South Africa; D046388:Swallows; D013686:Telemetry; D014741:Video Recording
keywords: South Africa; avivorous behaviour; feeding behaviour; freshwater fish; predation