Country Species Summary

Oreochromis niloticus niloticus in El Salvador
Nile tilapia

Oreochromis niloticus niloticus (Linnaeus, 1758)
Family:	Cichlidae (Cichlids) , subfamily: Pseudocrenilabrinae	picture (Ornil_m2.jpg) by WorldFish Center
Order:	Perciformes (perch-likes)
Class:	Actinopterygii (ray-finned fishes)
FishBase name:	Nile tilapia
Max. size:	60.0 cm SL (male/unsexed; Ref. 4967); max. published weight: 4,324 g (Ref. 40637); max. reported age: 9 years
Environment:	benthopelagic; potamodromous ; depth range - 5 m
Climate:	tropical; 14 - 33°C; 32°N - 10°N
Global Importance:	fisheries: highly commercial; aquaculture: commercial
Resilience:	Medium, minimum population doubling time 1.4 - 4.4 years (K=0.14-0.41; tm=1-2; tmax=9)
Distribution:	Africa: coastal rivers of Israel; Nile from below Albert Nile to the delta; Jebel Marra; in West Africa natural distribution covers the basins of the Niger, Benue, Volta, Gambia, Senegal and Chad, but introduced specimens reported from coastal basins. Widely introduced for aquaculture, with many existing strains. Several countries report adverse ecological impact after introduction.
Diagnosis:	Dorsal spines (total): 15-18; Dorsal soft rays (total): 11-13; Anal spines: 3-3; Anal soft rays: 9-11; Vertebrae: 30-32. Diagnosis: jaws of mature male not greatly enlarged (length of lower jaw 29-37 % of head length); genital papilla of breeding male not tassellated (Ref. 2). Most distinguishing characteristic is the presence of regular vertical stripes throughout depth of caudal fin (Ref. 4967, 53405). Description: lower pharyngeal bone longer than broad, its anterior part longer than toothed part; outer jaw teeth bicuspid, inner jaw teeth tricuspid, posterior pharyngeal teeth bicuspid and stout; 3-4 rows of teeth in jaws (3-5, rarely 6, in specimens over 200 mm SL); micro-gillrakers present; scales cycloid (Ref. 53405). Coloration: margin of dorsal fin grey or black; vertical bars in caudal fin 7-12 (Ref. 2). Regular black cross bars on caudal fin; ground colour greyish, relatively dark in adults; back olivaceous-green, sides paler, with 6-9 rather indistinct cross bars; belly whitish; upper lip pale green or white, lower lip white; dorsal and anal fins greyish, sometimes with very narrow red margin, soft part of fin with vertical lines (or with aligned light spots resembling striped pattern); pelvic fins grey, pectorals transparent; "tilapian" spot lacking in adults but very distinct in fingerlings which also have more distinct cross bars and very prominent black spot on upper part of caudal peduncle; throat, belly and unpaired fins black in mature males (Ref. 53405).
Biology:	Occurs in a wide variety of freshwater habitats like rivers, lakes, sewage canals and irrigation channels (Ref. 28714). Mainly diurnal. Feeds mainly on phytoplankton or benthic algae. Marketed fresh and frozen (Ref. 9987). Oviparous (Ref. 205). Mouthbrooding by females (Ref. 2). Extended temperature range 8 - 42 °C, natural temperature range 13.5 - 33 °C (Ref. 3)
Threatened:	Not Evaluated, see IUCN Red List , (Ref. 36508)
Dangerous:	potential pest
Coordinator:	Kullander, Sven O.
Main Ref:	Trewavas, E.. 1983. (Ref. 2)
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El Salvador country information
Common names:	[ No common name ]	Ref:
Status:	introduced	Ref:
Salinity:	freshwater, brackish
Importance:	minor commercial	Ref: FAO, 1992
Aquaculture:	commercial	Ref: FAO, 1996
Uses:	no uses
Country Information:	www.cia.gov/cia/publications/factbook/geos/es.html
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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