The Democratic Republic of the Congo’s waterways—from the mighty Congo River to its tributaries and lakes—support a wide variety of freshwater life shaped by varied currents, habitats and climates. Local communities, fisheries and conservation efforts all depend on knowing which species live where and how big they grow.
There are 28 Fish of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, ranging from African catfish to Vundu. For each species you’ll find below a concise table organized as Scientific name,Length (cm),Habitat & range (DRC) so you can quickly compare identification details, typical size and geographic distribution — see the list you’ll find below.
Which of these species are threatened or protected in the DRC?
Conservation status varies by species; some widespread fish like the African catfish are common, while others—especially range-restricted or habitat-specialist species—face pressure from overfishing, habitat loss and pollution; check the IUCN Red List and national protection rules for up-to-date listings and consult the habitat notes in the table below to identify higher-risk species.
How should I use the Scientific name,Length (cm),Habitat & range (DRC) columns when identifying fish?
Start with the scientific name to avoid local-name confusion, use Length (cm) to match the specimen’s size range, and consult Habitat & range (DRC) to see whether the species occurs where you are sampling; combining those three fields with photos or a regional field guide gives the most reliable ID.
Fish of the Democratic Republic of the Congo
| Common name | Scientific name | Length (cm) | Habitat & range (DRC) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nile tilapia | Oreochromis niloticus | 60 | Rivers and lakes across DRC; widespread, often introduced |
| Longfin tilapia | Oreochromis macrochir | 45 | Congo basin lakes and rivers, Lake Mweru, Lualaba |
| African catfish | Clarias gariepinus | 150 | Rivers, floodplains, lakes across Congo basin |
| Vundu | Heterobranchus longifilis | 150 | Large rivers and lakes of Congo basin, Pool Malebo |
| Goliath tigerfish | Hydrocynus goliath | 150 | Large Congo River channels, tributaries, lakes |
| Elephantnose | Gnathonemus petersii | 30 | Slow rivers, tributaries, floodplain pools in Congo basin |
| Congo tetra (diamond tetra) | Phenacogrammus interruptus | 8 | Middle Congo tributaries, streams, pools; aquarium trade source |
| Upside-down catfish | Synodontis nigriventris | 9 | Small rivers, lagoons and swampy areas in Congo basin |
| Cuckoo catfish | Synodontis multipunctatus | 27 | Lake Tanganyika shoreline (DRC), rocky habitats |
| African pike | Hepsetus odoe | 45 | Slow rivers, floodplains across Congo basin |
| Tanganyika lates | Lates stappersii | 40 | Lake Tanganyika (DRC shorelines), pelagic zones |
| Giant cichlid | Boulengerochromis microlepis | 90 | Deep waters and rocky slopes, Lake Tanganyika (DRC) |
| Frontosa | Cyphotilapia frontosa | 35 | Deep rocky zones of Lake Tanganyika (northern DRC) |
| Brichardi cichlid | Neolamprologus brichardi | 12 | Rocky littoral zones, Lake Tanganyika (DRC) |
| Tropheus | Tropheus moorii | 20 | Rocky shorelines, Lake Tanganyika (DRC coastal areas) |
| Julidochromis | Julidochromis regani | 12 | Rock crevices and cliffs, Lake Tanganyika (DRC) |
| Congo bichir | Polypterus congicus | 60 | Slow rivers, floodplain swamps in Congo basin |
| Senegal bichir | Polypterus senegalus | 60 | Floodplains, swampy streams across western/central Congo |
| Elephantfish (Mormyrid) | Mormyrus rume | 40 | Slow rivers and pools across Congo basin |
| African characin | Alestes baremoze | 35 | Rivers, floodplains, seasonal pools in Congo basin |
| Butter catfish | Schilbe intermedius | 35 | Open river channels and lakes across Congo basin |
| Longfin tetra | Brycinus longipinnis | 30 | Streams and rivers of Congo basin, shaded habitats |
| Auchenoglanis | Auchenoglanis occidentalis | 60 | Rivers, lakes and floodplains across central Congo |
| Congo lampeye | Micropanchax loati | 4 | Small streams, swampy pools in Congo basin |
| Silver fish (Alestes) | Alestes dentex | 30 | Rivers and floodplain systems of the Congo basin |
| Lake Tanganyika sand-dweller | Eretmodus cyanostictus | 12 | Sandy and rocky littoral zones, Lake Tanganyika (DRC) |
| Congo lampeye (alternate) | Aplocheilichthys spilauchen | 6 | Brackish and lower river reaches, Congo estuary areas |
| Tanganyika goby | Eretmodus marksmithi | 10 | Rocky shallows, Lake Tanganyika (DRC shorelines) |
Images and Descriptions
Nile tilapia
A familiar farmed and wild tilapia, reaching about 60 cm. Found widely in DRC waters after introductions; valued for food but can outcompete native fish. Highly tolerant, often common in disturbed rivers and lakes.
Longfin tilapia
A large tilapia used for food fisheries across the DRC. Reaches roughly 45 cm, inhabits rivers and lakes. Locally important to fisheries but sensitive to overfishing and habitat change; widespread rather than endemic.
African catfish
A hardy, air-breathing catfish reaching up to 1.5 m. Widespread in the DRC, important for local fisheries and aquaculture. Tolerant of low oxygen but vulnerable to overharvest and water quality decline.
Vundu
A huge freshwater catfish often called vundu, growing to around 1.5 m. A top predator and prized food fish in the DRC. Faces pressure from intensive fishing and habitat alteration.
Goliath tigerfish
A powerful predatory characin famed for size and teeth, reaching about 1.5 m. Iconic sportfish in the Congo basin; vulnerable to overfishing and prized by anglers. Widespread but not abundant.
Elephantnose
A nocturnal, long-snouted mormyrid using electric pulses to navigate and find prey. Grows to ~30 cm, popular in aquaria. Locally common but sensitive to water pollution and habitat loss.
Congo tetra (diamond tetra)
A shimmering, schooling tetra up to 8 cm, famous in the aquarium trade. Native to Congo tributaries; popular commercially but some local populations impacted by habitat change.
Upside-down catfish
A small, social catfish that swims upside-down, reaching about 9 cm. Common in shaded pools and aquarium hobbyists prize it. Generally widespread but relies on undisturbed shallow waters.
Cuckoo catfish
A brood-parasitic catfish from Lake Tanganyika reaching ~27 cm. Lays eggs among cichlids, tricking them into raising its young. Endemic to Tanganyika region; fascinating ecology but sensitive to lake changes.
African pike
A sit-and-wait predator resembling a pike, reaching ~45 cm. Found in vegetated pools and slow rivers. Important small-scale fishery species; vulnerable to wetland drainage and overfishing.
Tanganyika lates
A schooling, sardine-like lates up to ~40 cm important for Tanganyika fisheries. Local staple in DRC lakeshore communities; sensitive to overfishing and changes in lake productivity.
Giant cichlid
The largest Tanganyika cichlid, reaching about 90 cm. A striking predator endemic to Lake Tanganyika; rare and notable for its size. Faces fishing pressure and habitat changes in lake.
Frontosa
A large, banded, deepwater cichlid to ~35 cm admired by aquarists. Native to Lake Tanganyika’s deep rocky habitats along DRC shores; slow-growing and vulnerable to overharvest and habitat disturbance.
Brichardi cichlid
A small, social, cavity-dwelling cichlid reaching ~12 cm. Endemic to Lake Tanganyika, common on DRC shores; known for cooperative breeding and popular in aquaria.
Tropheus
A colorful, algae-grazing cichlid to about 20 cm endemic to Tanganyika. Found on DRC rocky coasts, popular in the aquarium trade; habitat-specific and sensitive to shoreline disturbance.
Julidochromis
A slender, banded cichlid about 12 cm living in rock crevices. Endemic to Tanganyika basin with DRC populations; notable for pair bonding and cave-brooding behavior.
Congo bichir
A prehistoric-looking bichir reaching ~60 cm, endemic to central Congo basin. Air-breathing, elongated predator valued locally; vulnerable to wetland loss and heavy fishing.
Senegal bichir
A hardy, air-breathing fish up to ~60 cm often found in shallow, vegetated waters. Widespread in the DRC; collected for local use and aquarium trade, tolerant but affected by habitat degradation.
Elephantfish (Mormyrid)
A medium-sized electric fish reaching ~40 cm with elongated snout and weak electric signals. Used locally for subsistence; sensitive to water quality and river fragmentation.
African characin
A schooling, silvery characin up to ~35 cm important for local fisheries. Found widely across DRC floodplain systems; populations fluctuate with hydrology and fishing pressure.
Butter catfish
A slender, silvery catfish reaching about 35 cm. Common in the DRC as a forage and fishery species; vulnerable locally to overfishing and damming that disrupts migrations.
Longfin tetra
A robust characin up to ~30 cm, inhabiting forest streams and tributaries. Locally common; sometimes collected for food or aquarium trade, reliant on healthy forested waterways.
Auchenoglanis
A tough claroteid catfish reaching ~60 cm, widespread in DRC waters. Important to subsistence fisheries and tolerant of varied conditions but affected by overharvest and habitat loss.
Congo lampeye
A tiny, colorful killifish to about 4 cm found in shallow vegetated waters. Locally present in DRC floodplains and tributaries; sensitive to habitat drainage and water pollution.
Silver fish (Alestes)
A medium characin up to ~30 cm that schools in larger rivers and floodplains. Common in DRC fisheries; responds to seasonal floods and susceptible to overfishing in some areas.
Lake Tanganyika sand-dweller
A small, territorial cichlid about 12 cm that grazes algae on shallow rocky and sandy shores. Endemic to Tanganyika; subtle habitat specialists vulnerable to shoreline changes and sedimentation.
Congo lampeye (alternate)
A small, silvery killifish up to 6 cm inhabiting lower river reaches and estuarine-influenced zones in western DRC. Tolerant of variable salinity, used locally but impacted by coastal development.
Tanganyika goby
A small benthic cichlid ~10 cm that scrapes algae from rocks. Endemic to the lake with DRC populations; interesting ecological specialist vulnerable to sedimentation and shoreline disturbance.
