Scientific Name
Tilapia zillii

Common Name
Redbelly tilapia

Biology
Occasionally form schools; mainly diurnal. Prefer shallow, vegetated areas (Ref. 4967). Fry are common in marginal vegetation and juveniles are found in the seasonal floodplain. Herbivorous, feed on water plants and epiphyton, and some invertebrates. Substrate spawner (Ref. 28714). Larvae develop in close association with substrate. Extended temperature range 6.5 - 42.5 ?C, natural temperature range 10.5 - 36?C (Ref. 3).

Classification

Classified By

Gervais, 1848

Class

Ray-finned fishes (Actinopterygii)

Order

Perch-like fish (Perciformes)

Family

Cichlids (Cichlidae)

Distribution

Region

Africa and Eurasia

Distribution

Africa and Eurasia: South Morocco, Sahara, Niger-Benue system, rivers Senegal, Sassandra, Bandama, Boubo, M?, Como?, Bia, Ogun and Oshun, Volta system, Chad-Shari system (Ref. 5163), middle Congo River basin in the Ubangi, Uele, Ituri and Itimbiri (Democratic Republic of the Congo), Lakes Albert (Ref. 55074) and Turkana, Nile system and the Jordan system (Ref. 5163). Several countries report adverse ecological impact after introduction.

Range

35°N - 10°S

Environment

Climate

Tropical

Water Temperature From

11 °C

Water Temperature To

36 °C

Depth From - meters

1 m

Depth To - meters

7 m

Zone

benthopelagic

Environment

Freshwater; brackish; ; pH range: 6.0 - 9.0; dH range: 5 - 20 benthopelagic; potamodromous (Ref. 51243); depth range 1 - 7 m (Ref. 4967)

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

True

Physical Size and Genetics

Maximum Length

40.0 cm

Common Length

30.0 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: commercial; aquaculture: commercial; aquarium: commercial

Vulnerability

Low to moderate vulnerability (27 of 100)

Resilience

Medium, minimum population doubling time 1.4 - 4.4 years (K=0.2-0.5; tm=2-3; tmax=7; Fec = 715 - 1,147)

Threat To Humans

Potential pest

IUCN Red List Status

Not Evaluated