Scientific Name
Oreochromis niloticus niloticus

Common Name
Nile tilapia

Biology
Occur in a wide variety of freshwater habitats like rivers, lakes, sewage canals and irrigation channels (Ref. 28714). Mainly diurnal. Feed mainly on phytoplankton or benthic algae. Oviparous (Ref. 205). Mouthbrooding by females (Ref. 2). Extended temperature range 8-42 ?C, natural temperature range 13.5 - 33 ?C (Ref. 3). Marketed fresh and frozen (Ref. 9987).

Classification

Classified By

Linnaeus, 1758

Class

Ray-finned fishes (Actinopterygii)

Order

Perch-like fish (Perciformes)

Family

Cichlids (Cichlidae)

Distribution

Region

Africa

Distribution

Africa: coastal rivers of Israel; Nile from below Albert Nile to the delta; Jebel Marra; in West Africa natural distribution covers the basins of the Niger, Benue, Volta, Gambia, Senegal and Chad, but introduced specimens reported from coastal basins. Widely introduced for aquaculture, with many existing strains. Several countries report adverse ecological impact after introduction.

Range

32°N - 10°N

Environment

Climate

Tropical

Water Temperature From

14 °C

Water Temperature To

33 °C

Depth From - meters

5 m

Depth To - meters

Unknown m

Zone

benthopelagic

Environment

Freshwater; brackish; benthopelagic; potamodromous (Ref. 51243); depth range 5 - ? m (Ref. 28714), usually ? - 20 m (Ref. 34290)

Trophic Level

2 s.e. 0.00 Based on diet studies.

Occurs in Marine / Salt water

False

Occurs in Brackish water

True

Occurs in Fresh Water

True

Occurs on Reefs

False

Is kept in Aquariums

False

Physical Size and Genetics

Maximum Length

60.0 cm

Common Length

Unknown cm

Phylogenetic Diversity Index

PD50 = 0.5000 many relatives (e.g. carps) 0.5 - 2.0 few relatives (e.g. lungfishes)

Human Uses and Population

Human Uses

Fisheries: highly commercial; aquaculture: commercial

Vulnerability

Low to moderate vulnerability (34 of 100)

Resilience

Medium, minimum population doubling time 1.4 - 4.4 years (K=0.14-0.41; tm=1-2; tmax=9; Fec

Threat To Humans

Potential pest

IUCN Red List Status

Not Evaluated