Oreochromis niloticus

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Nile Tilapia
Freshly harvested O. niloticus in the Democratic Republic of Congo
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Chordata Class: Actinopterygii Order: Perciformes Family: Cichlidae Genus: Oreochromis Species: O. niloticus
Binomial name
Oreochromis niloticus Linnaeus, 1758

The Nile Tilapia, Oreochromis niloticus is a cichlid fish of African origin which is native from Syria into east Africa through the Congo to Liberia. It is a species of high economic value and is widely introduced outside its natural range; probably next to O. mossambicus it is the most commonly cultured cichlid.^{[citation needed]}

Variously reported in the literature to be a plankton feeder, an omnivore, and to feed on higher plants to the extent that it may be used in weed control.

[edit] Subspecies

• Oreochromis niloticus baringoensis Trewavas, 1983
• Oreochromis niloticus filoa Trewavas, 1983
• Oreochromis niloticus sugutae Trewavas, 1983
• Oreochromis niloticus tana Seyoum & Kornfield, 1992

[edit] See also

• Tilapia

[edit] References

• Oreochromis niloticus (TSN 553310). Integrated Taxonomic Information System. Accessed on 11 March 2006.
• J. E. Bardach, J. H. Ryther, and W. O. McLarney (1972). Aquaculture. the Farming and Husbandry of Freshwater and Marine Organisms. John Wiley & Sons. 
• "Oreochromis niloticus". FishBase. Ed. Ranier Froese and Daniel Pauly. November 2005 version. N.p.: FishBase, 2005.