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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.
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 control of aquatic weeds. Introduced tilapias can, on the other hand, easily become an invasive species (see Tilapia as exotic species). In modern aquaculture, wild-type Nile tilapia are not too often seen, as their flesh has a dark color that is not much desired by many customers, and because it has a bit of a reputation of being a "trash fish" associated with poverty[1]. On the other hand, they are fast-growing and give good fillets; leucistic ("Red") breeds which have lighter meat have been developed and these are very popular.
Hybrid stock is also used in aquaculture; Nile × Blue Tilapia hybrids are usually rather dark, but a light-colored hybrid breed known as "Rocky Mountain White" tilapia is often grown due to its very light flesh and tolerance of low temperatures.[2]
Aquaculture of the Nile tilapia goes back to Ancient Egypt, where it was called ''ỉn.t'' and represented by hieroglyph K1 of the Gardiner List. As a logogram, this meant "a Nile tilapia". Used as a determinative (ideogram), it apparently signified Nile tilapia and/or flathead mullets which like the tilapia were commercially important fish, namely in the Nile delta:
K1-Z1s
If used as part of a phonogram, it represented the sound ''ỉn'':
K1

Contents

Systematics

Medical Significance

See also

References

External links

Systematics

★ Baringo tilapia, ''Oreochromis niloticus baringoensis'' Trewavas, 1983

★ ''Oreochromis niloticus cancellatus'' (Nichols, 1923)

★ ''Oreochromis niloticus eduardianus'' (Boulenger, 1912)

★ ''Oreochromis niloticus filoa'' Trewavas, 1983

★ ''Oreochromis niloticus niloticus'' (Linnaeus, 1758)

★ ''Oreochromis niloticus sugutae'' Trewavas, 1983

★ ''Oreochromis niloticus tana'' Seyoum & Kornfield, 1992

★ ''Oreochromis niloticus vulcani'' (Trewavas, 1933)
The forms referred to as ''Oreochromis'' (or ''Tilapia'') "Nyabikere" and "Kabagole" seem to belong to this species too. An undescribed population found at, for example, Wami River, Lake Manyara and Tingaylanda seems to be a close relative.(Nagl ''et al.'' 2001)

Medical Significance

In a recenct research in Kenya, it has been suggested that as this fish can feed on mosquito lavae, it could be used in the fight against malaria in Africa.^[1]

See also

★ Nile perch - a different fish, more common today as "Victoria perch". Both this fish and the Nile tilapia belong to the Perciformes, or perch-like fish.

References

★

★

★ (1972): ''Aquaculture. the Farming and Husbandry of Freshwater and Marine Organisms''. John Wiley & Sons.

★ (2001): Classification and Phylogenetic Relationships of African Tilapiine Fishes Inferred from Mitochondrial DNA Sequences. ''Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution'' '20'(3): 361–374.
1. "Nile Tilapia can fight malaria mosquitoes", BBC News 8th August 2007.

External links

★ Red breed of Nile tilapia photo. Retrieved 2007-JUL-12.

★ Rocky Mountain White tilapia photo. Retrieved 2007-JUL-12.