Country Species Summary

Tilapia zillii in Antigua and Barbuda
Redbelly tilapia

Tilapia zillii (Gervais, 1848)
Family:	Cichlidae (Cichlids) , subfamily: Pseudocrenilabrinae	picture (Tizil_u0.jpg) by Shao, K.T.
Order:	Perciformes (perch-likes)
Class:	Actinopterygii (ray-finned fishes)
FishBase name:	Redbelly tilapia
Max. size:	40.0 cm SL (male/unsexed; Ref. 34290); max. published weight: 300 g (Ref. 3799); max. reported age: 7 years
Environment:	benthopelagic; potamodromous; pH range: 6 - 9; dH range: 5 - 20 ; depth range 1 - 7 m
Climate:	tropical; 11 - 36°C; 35°N - 10°S
Global Importance:	fisheries: commercial; aquaculture: commercial; aquarium: commercial
Resilience:	Medium, minimum population doubling time 1.4 - 4.4 years (K=0.2-0.5; tm=2-3; tmax=7)
Distribution:	Africa and Eurasia: South Morocco, Sahara, Niger-Benue system, rivers Senegal, Sassandra, Bandama, Boubo, Mé, Comoé, Bia, Ogun and Oshun, Volta system, Chad-Shari system (Ref. 5163), middle Congo River basin in the Ubangi, Uele, Ituri and Itimbiri (Democratic Republic of the Congo), Lakes Albert (Ref. 55074) and Turkana, Nile system and the Jordan system (Ref. 5163). Several countries report adverse ecological impact after introduction.
Diagnosis:	Dorsal spines (total): 13-16; Dorsal soft rays (total): 10-14; Anal spines: 3-3; Anal soft rays: 8-10. Diagnosis: upper profile of head not convex; lower pharyngeal bone about as long as broad, and with anterior lamella shorter than toothed area; median pharyngeal teeth not broadened; dorsal fin with 14-16 spines and 10-14 soft rays (mean 15, 12); 8-11 lower gillrakers; dark longitudinal band appears on flanks when agitated; no bifurcated dark vertical bars on flanks; dorsal and caudal fins not or feebly blotched (Ref. 53405). Body brownish-olivaceous with an iridescent blue sheen; lips bright green (Ref. 34290, 53405). Chest pinkish (Ref. 34290). Dorsal, caudal and anal fins brownish-olivaceous with yellow spots, dorsal and anal fins outlined by narrow orange band; "tilapian" spot large, extending from last spine to 4th soft ray and always bordered by yellow band (Ref. 34290, 53405). Specimens 2-14 cm SL with completely yellowish or greyish caudal fin without dots, but tend to develop a greyish caudal fin with dots of increasing size during development; above 14 cm SL, this species has greyish caudal fins with dots on entire caudal fin (Ref. 57660). Description: body rather deep, its depth about 55% of standard length; head profile straight, slightly oblique; outer jaw teeth bicuspid and non-spatulate, inner jaw teeth and posterior pharyngeal teeth tricuspid; micro-gillrakers present; scales cycloid (Ref. 53405). Coloration: in life: ground colour brownish-olicaveous (Ref. 34290, 53405) with iridescent reflections on scales (Ref. 53405). Back and sides with 7-10 darker cross bars and dark longitudinal band at level of lower lateral line; second longitudinal band sometimes present along upper lateral line (Ref. 53405). Lips pale green (Ref. 34290, 53405). Dorsal, anal and caudal fins brownish-olivaceous and yellow-spotted; dorsal and anal fins often edged with orange (Ref. 34290, 53405). Iridescent green spots on head in sexually mature individuals (Ref. 53405). "Tilapian" spot large, extending from last spine to 4th soft ray and always bordered by yellow band (Ref. 34290, 53405). Opercular spot very distinct; caudal fin with an irregular network of darker lines; in fingerlings, black spots on dorsal and anal fins orange and caudal fin appears as vertically striped (Ref. 53405).
Biology:	Occasionally form schools; mainly diurnal. Prefer shallow, vegetated areas (Ref. 4967). Fry are common in marginal vegetation and juveniles are found in the seasonal floodplain. Herbivorous, feed on water plants and epiphyton, and some invertebrates. Substrate spawner (Ref. 28714). Larvae develop in close association with substrate. Extended temperature range 6.5 - 42.5 °C, natural temperature range 10.5 - 36°C (Ref. 3)
Threatened:	Not Evaluated, see IUCN Red List , (Ref. 36508)
Dangerous:	potential pest
Coordinator:	Kullander, Sven O.
Main Ref:	Teugels, G.G. and D.F.E. Thys van den Audenaerde. 1991. (Ref. 5163)
Update \| Add

Antigua and Barbuda country information
Common names:	[ No common name ]	Ref:
Status:	introduced	Ref:
Salinity:	freshwater, brackish
Uses:	no uses
Country Information:	www.cia.gov/cia/publications/factbook/geos/ac.html
National Fisheries Authority:	caricom-fisheries.com/antigua-fisheries/
Occurrences:	Occurrences Point map
Main Ref:	Welcomme, R.L., 1988
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Modified: Froese, Rainer

Entered: Welcomme, Robin L.

CGNET - US

Page created by: Eli, 20.10.03, last modified by Eli, 26.06.07

	Ref.:		Glossary
		(e.g. 9948)		(e.g. cephalopods)
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