Lake Rukwa tilapia (Oreochromis rukwaensis)

Scientific name: Oreochromis rukwaensis Hilgendorf & Pappenheim, 1903

Lake Rukwa tilapia (Oreochromis rukwaensis)

The Lake Rukwa tilapia (Oreochromis rukwaensis) is a freshwater fish of the family Cichlidae. Native range: Africa, Lake Rukwa in Tanzania.

Biology

Dorsal spines (total): 15 - 17; Dorsal soft rays (total): 11-13; Anal spines: 3; Anal soft rays: 10 - 11; Vertebrae: 30. Caudal fin free of scales except basally. Scales on cheek in 2 rows. Vertebrae 30. Outer teeth bicuspid, occasionally with a few tricuspids. Breeding males mainly black with orange margins to dorsal and caudal fins; pelvic fins black or yellowish and the long genital tassels orange-yellow; iridescent marblings on gill-cover and snout.

Source: FishBase, licensed CC BY-NC 4.0.

Species facts

Scientific name
Oreochromis rukwaensis
Family
Cichlidae (Cichlids)
Order
Perciformes (Perch-like fish)
Class
Actinopterygii (Ray-finned fishes)
Maximum length
33.0
Environment
Freshwater; benthopelagic
Climate
Tropical
Distribution
Africa: Lake Rukwa in Tanzania.
Conservation status (IUCN)
Vulnerable (VU) (D2)
Threat to humans
Harmless
Uses
Fisheries: commercial
Resilience
Medium, minimum population doubling time 1.4 - 4.4 years (Preliminary K or Fecundity.)

Sources

Taxonomy, distribution and biology data: FishBase (Froese, R. and D. Pauly, eds.), licensed CC BY-NC 4.0.

Last updated