Spotted tilapia (Tilapia mariae)

Scientific name: Tilapia mariae Boulenger, 1899

The Spotted tilapia (Tilapia mariae) is a freshwater fish of the family Cichlidae. In the aquarium it needs water at 20–25°C (68–77°F).

Spotted tilapia care at a glance

Temperature
20–25°C (68–77°F)

Biology

Dorsal spines (total): 15 - 17; Dorsal soft rays (total): 13-15; Anal spines: 3; Anal soft rays: 10 - 11. Diagnosis: body rather elevated (body depth 46.9-51.6% SL). Head profile rounded. Outer teeth on jaws bicuspid, gracile and spatulated. Lower pharyngeal jaw teeth relatively small and narrow near posterior border of bone, forming an almost felt-like covering. Micro-gillrakers present; adults (> 150 mm) with a series of dark blotches in the middle of the flanks (sometimes body entirely blackish). Juveniles with 7-9 large vertical bands. Ventral scales with central red spot; 12 or more rakers on lower limb of first gill arch.

Source: FishBase, licensed CC BY-NC 4.0.

Species facts

Scientific name
Tilapia mariae
Family
Cichlidae (Cichlids)
Order
Perciformes (Perch-like fish)
Class
Actinopterygii (Ray-finned fishes)
Maximum length
32.3
Common length
17.5
Environment
Freshwater; brackish;; pH range: 6.0 - 8.0; dH range: 5 - 19 demersal
Climate
Tropical
Distribution
Africa: coastal lagoons and lower river courses from the Tabou River (C?te d'Ivoire) to the Kribi River (Cameroon), but absent from the area between the Pra River (Ghana) and Benin. Also recorded from the lower Ntem, Cameroon (81260).
Conservation status (IUCN)
Least Concern (LC)
Threat to humans
Harmless
Uses
Fisheries:; aquarium: commercial
Resilience
Medium, minimum population doubling time 1.4 - 4.4 years (Fec = 2,000)

Sources

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

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