Oreochromis esculentus (Graham, 1928)

Singida tilapia

Catalog of Fishes (gen., sp.) | ITIS | CoL

Classification	Actinopterygii \| Perciformes \| Cichlidae \| Pseudocrenilabrinae
Synonyms	Tilapia esculenta, Sarotherodon esculentus, ... more
Common names	Graham's tilapia, Perege, 美味口孵非鲫, ... more

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Image of Oreochromis esculentus (Singida tilapia)

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Main reference

Trewavas, E. 1983. (Ref. 2)
Other references | Biblio | Coordinator : Kullander, Sven O. | Collaborators

Size / Weight / Age

Max length : 50.0 cm SL male/unsexed; (Ref. 2); common length : 31.0 cm SL male/unsexed; (Ref. 34290); max. published weight: 2,500 g (Ref. 2); max. reported age: 10 years (Ref. 2)

Environment

Benthopelagic; freshwater; depth range 0 - 50 m (Ref. 34291), usually ? - 20 m (Ref. 34290)

Climate / Range

Tropical; 24°C - 29°C (Ref. 3)

Africa: Lake Victoria, Lake Nabugabo, Lakes Kyoga and Kwania, and the Victoria Nile above the Murchison Falls; the Malawa River (Uganda) and Lake Gangu, west of Lake Victoria. This species, which was originally endemic to Lake Victoria, is widely distributed in dams (Ref. 4967). At least one country reports adverse ecological impact after introduction.
Countries | FAO areas | Ecosystems | Occurrences | Introductions

Short description

Dorsal spines (total): 16 - 18; Dorsal soft rays (total): 10 - 12; Anal spines: 3 - 4; Anal soft rays: 9 - 12; Vertebrae: 30 - 31. Diagnosis: head somewhat pointed; snout with relatively steep forehead; eyes positioned low (Ref. 27292). No enlargement of the jaws in mature males (Ref. 2). Preorbital bone rather shallow, its depth not exceeding 21% head length (Ref. 2, 27292). Pharyngeal bone 33.0-35.5% head length; male genital papilla opening between a pair of often spongy lobes (papilla conical or with a slight distal notch) (Ref. 2). Length:depth ratio of caudal peduncle 0.9-1.15 (Ref. 2, 34290). Males without genital tassel (Ref. 363, 27292, 54836). Body not conspicuously spotted (Ref. 4903, 54836). Male breeding coloration a general reddish colour with black ventral parts and dorsal fin; lappets of dorsal fin not bright red or orange (Ref. 2). No vertical stripes on caudal fin (Ref. 2, 4967). Young and females with Tilapia-mark in soft dorsal fin (Ref. 27292). Description: body very deep; dorsal profile rising steeply and evenly from the tip of the snout to the high back (Ref. 54840). Teeth in 2-3 series in juveniles, 3-5 in adults; lower pharyngeal bone in adult longer than wide, teeth fine and crowded (Ref. 2). Scales on cheek usually in 2-3 rows (Ref. 2, 4967, 54840, 55055, 56136). Scales extending on to the preorbital bone (Ref. 54840). 8-9 scales over top of caudal peducle above lateral line (Ref. 2, 55055, 56136). Upper part of lateral line with 20-23 scales, lower part with 12-17 scales (Ref. 27292). 5.5-7 scales along lateral series in the length of the caudal peduncle (Ref. 56137). Micro-branchiospines present on outer sides of 2nd, 3rd and 4th arches (Ref. 2, 4967). Otoliths fairly smooth (Ref. 56279). Dorsal and anal fins posteriorly pointed, but not filamentous; pectoral fin extending beyond origin of anal fin (Ref. 54979). Caudal peduncle deeper than long (Ref. 54840). Caudal often rounded by wear in adult; caudal not densely scaled, but in large specimens small scales may extend on the rays nearly to the margin and are rather dense on the upper and lower rays (Ref. 2). Genital papilla of male not prolonged, but may be bluntly bifid and have a number of short lobes with a spongy texture (Ref. 2, 4967). Old specimens may be oddly shaped and heavily spined (Ref. 55055). Coloration: female and non-breeding male: olive-brown to watery green, grading to cream or silvery below (Ref. 2, 34290). Soft vertical fins usually with round white spots (Ref. 2, 34290, 54840). Fins dark, tinged with red; tail of a plain color (Ref. 36900). No vertical bars (Ref. 27292, 54836). Young: silvery grey (Ref. 4903, 34290, 55020) often with pearly overtones (Ref. 55020). Bars rarely present, except in individuals 1.3-2.0cm where 4-5 broad diffuse bars may be present, occasionally taking the form of horizontal blotches on the flanks (Ref. 55020). Clear-ringed, conspicuous, black tilapia-mark present (Ref. 2, 4903, 34290, 36900, 55020), which may still be detected up to 17cm SL, but then not ringed (Ref. 2). Breeding male: whole ventral surface from mouth to anus (Ref. 2, 363), pelvic fins, anterior part of anal fin, and dorsal fin black (Ref. 2, 363, 4967, 27292). Hind end of dorsal fin with clear area (Ref. 59157). Dorsal fin without bright red or orange border (Ref. 2, 4903, 34290, 54979, 56136). Dorsal fin lappets sometimes crimson (Ref. 2, 56136). White and greenish white spots on dorsal and caudal may be intensified in the male (Ref. 2, 363). Sides of head (Ref. 2, 363) and body above black area (Ref. 2, 363, 56136) crimson, elsewhere scales grey with pinkish-fawn edge (Ref. 2, 363). Pectoral fins clear and slightly pink; black color of ventral surface and fins, red sides and red (crimson) lappets remain after death (Ref. 363). Preserved specimens: olive grey, darker dorsally, whitish ventrally; head dark; opercular spot clearly visible; dorsal, anal and caudal fin greyish (Ref. 54979).

Occurs at temperatures ranging from 23.0-28.0 °C (Ref. 3). Tolerant of low oxygen concentrations (<1ppm) (Ref. 3, 48262, 52016) and high levels of carbon dioxide (Ref. 3, 52016). Occasionally forms schools (Ref. 2, 3, 363, 36900, 52061, 55020). Mainly diurnal (Ref. 2). Filter feeder (Ref. 787). Food consist almost entirely of phytoplankton (Ref. 3, 6316), mainly diatoms (Ref. 30832, 34291) but also higher plants (Ref. 27292), and small animals such as insects and their larvae, crustaceans (Ref. 4903, 27292) and worms (Ref. 27292), are taken as well, but they occur less frequently and may contribute to the diet of young fishes (Ref. 4903, 34291). Only diatoms (Ref. 4903, 54979) and some blue-green and green algae (Ref. 361) appear to be digested . Agamous (Ref. 12468), maternal moutbrooder (Ref. 363, 4903, 12468, 27292, 34291, 54840). Excellent taste, firm meat and suitable for sundrying (Ref. 54860).


IUCN Red List Status (Ref. 57073)	Threat to humans
Critically Endangered (CR) (A2bcde)	Potential pest

Human uses
Fisheries: commercial; aquaculture: experimental


More information
Countries FAO areas Ecosystems Occurrences Introductions Ecology Diet Food items Food consumption Ration	Common names Synonyms Metabolism Predators Ecotoxicology Reproduction Maturity Spawning Eggs Egg development	Age/Size Growth Length-weight Length-length Length-frequencies Morphometrics Morphology Larvae Larval dynamics Recruitment	Other references Biblio Aquaculture Aquaculture profile Strains Genetics Allele frequencies Heritability Diseases Processing	Collaborators Pictures Stamps Sounds Ciguatera Speed Swim. type Gill area Otoliths Brains Vision

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Internet sources

Estimation of some characteristics with mathematical models

Resilience (Ref. 69278)

Medium, minimum population doubling time 1.4 - 4.4 years (tmax=10)


Vulnerability (Ref. 59153)	Price category (Ref. 80766)
Low to moderate vulnerability (31 of 100)	Not marketed/unknown

Entered by Luna, Susan M.

Modified by Musschoot, Tobias

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