Scientific Name
Oreochromis spilurus spilurus

Common Name
Sabaki tilapia

Biology
Dorsal spines (total): 14 - 17; Dorsal soft rays (total): 10-13; Anal spines: 3; Anal soft rays: 9 - 10; Vertebrae: 28 - 30. Scales on cheek in 2 or 3 series. Genital papilla of male conical or club-shaped, with a sub-terminal pore. Females and immature males have a yellow-buff background color with a series of mid-lateral blotches and a more dorsal parallel series. Mature males golden-yellow; conspicuous bright blue areas on dorsal, anal and pelvic fins; orange or red dorsal lappets.

Classification

Classified By

G?nther, 1894

Class

Ray-finned fishes (Actinopterygii)

Order

Perch-like fish (Perciformes)

Family

Cichlids (Cichlidae)

Distribution

Region

Africa

Distribution

Africa: Coastal rivers of Kenya from the Mwena River to the lower Athi below Lugard's Falls; also near its mouth, including Lake Chem Chem; Lower and middle Tana River, Northern Uaso Nyiro, Juba system and Webi Shebeli; Nguruman. Probably also in Lake Momello, south of the Kenya-Tanzania border.

Range

23°N - 7°S

Environment

Climate

Tropical

Water Temperature From

24 °C

Water Temperature To

28 °C

Depth From - meters

Unknown m

Depth To - meters

Unknown m

Zone

benthopelagic

Environment

Freshwater; brackish; benthopelagic

Trophic Level

2.6 s.e. 0.35 Based on food items.

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

19.2 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

Aquaculture: commercial; aquarium: commercial

Vulnerability

Low to moderate vulnerability (26 of 100)

Resilience

High, minimum population doubling time less than 15 months (tm

Threat To Humans

Harmless

IUCN Red List Status

Not Evaluated