Hydrocynus forskahlii, the elongate tigerfish, is a species of predatory characin from the family Alestidae which is found in northern and western Africa.

[1][2] The West African pike characin Hepsetus odoe avoids competition with and predation by Hydrocynus forskhali by showing a preference for the upper courses of rivers where H. forskahli is less abundant or is absent.

[6] In Lake Kainji, Nigeria, Hydrocynus forskahlii preys mainly on small clupeiforms however the largest specimens feed more heavily on the characid Alestes baremoze.

[8] The generic name Hydrocynus is from the Greek hydro meaning water and kyon meaning dog and is a direct translation of the Egyptian Arabic name for this species Kelb el bahr, or water dog.

[5] As Hydrocynus forskahlii is a commercially important species it suffers from heavy fishing pressure.