Video: African tigerfish catches bird in flight

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The video below shows an African tigerfish leaping from the water to snatch a swallow straight out of the air.

Rumours of such behaviour by the predatory African tigerfish (Hydrocynus vittatus) have circulated for decades, but this is the first confirmed record of a freshwater fish preying on birds in flight.

Researchers saw 20 successful fish strikes on these birds during a study at Mapungubwe National Park in South Africa, reports Nature News.

The report by the Unit for Environmental Sciences and Management at North-West University in Potchefstroom, South Africa is published in the Journal of Fish Biology.

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