Scientific Name
Oreochromis urolepis urolepis

Common Name
Wami tilapia

Biology
Dorsal spines (total): 16 - 18; Dorsal soft rays (total): 11-14; Anal spines: 3; Anal soft rays: 9 - 12; Vertebrae: 29 - 30. Jaws of mature males enlarged; profile concave. Females and non-breeding males silvery or steel-grey with 2-4 mid-lateral blotches and a more dorsal series usually evident. Breeding males generally dark olive to black, with margin of dorsal fin and margin or upper half of caudal bright red, pink or orange. Deep preorbital bone. Adult caudal fin with dense scalation

Classification

Classified By

Norman, 1922

Class

Ray-finned fishes (Actinopterygii)

Order

Perch-like fish (Perciformes)

Family

Cichlids (Cichlidae)

Distribution

Region

Africa

Distribution

Africa: Rufigi River and its tributaries; the Kilombero and Great Ruaha Rivers, but not in the delta; the Kingani and Mbenkuru Rivers, all in Tanzania.

Range

5°S - 10°S

Environment

Climate

Tropical

Water Temperature From

22 °C

Water Temperature To

28 °C

Depth From - meters

1 m

Depth To - meters

Unknown m

Zone

benthopelagic

Environment

Freshwater; brackish; benthopelagic; depth range 1 - ? m (Ref. 5723)

Trophic Level

2.02 s.e. 0.14 Based on size and trophs of closest relatives

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

44.0 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: commercial; aquaculture: commercial; aquarium: commercial

Vulnerability

Moderate to high vulnerability (48 of 100)

Resilience

Medium, minimum population doubling time 1.4 - 4.4 years (Fec=500)

Threat To Humans

Harmless

IUCN Red List Status

Not Evaluated