Classification / Names
Common names from other countries
Main reference
Size / Weight / Age
Max length : 45.7 cm TL male/unsexed; (Ref. 40637); common length : 16.0 cm TL male/unsexed; (Ref. 12193); max. published weight: 2.0 kg (Ref. 40637)
Length at first maturity
Lm ?, range 13 - 20 cm
Environment
Freshwater; brackish; benthopelagic; potamodromous (Ref. 51243); depth range 5 - ? m
Climate / Range
Tropical; 8°C - 30°C (Ref. 2), preferred ?; 35°N - 10°N
Distribution
Africa and Eurasia: Jordan Valley, Lower Nile, Chad Basin, Benue, middle and upper Niger, Senegal River (Ref. 21). Introduced in the oasis of Azraq (Jordan) as well as in warm water ponds of USA, South and Central America and South East Asia. At least one country reports adverse ecological impact after introduction.
Countries | FAO areas | Ecosystems | Occurrences | Introductions
Short description
Dorsal
spines
(total): 14 - 17;
Dorsal
soft rays
(total): 11-15;
Anal
spines: 3;
Anal
soft rays: 8 - 11;
Vertebrae: 28 - 31. Diagnosis: Adults: narrow preorbital bone (depth max. 21.5% of head length in fishes up to 21.3cm SL); lower pharyngeal jaw with short blade; no enlargement of the jaws in mature fish (lower jaw not exceeding and usually less than 36.8% head length) (Ref. 2). Caudal without regular dark vertical stripes (Ref. 2, 53405, 54467), but with a broad pink to bright red distal margin (Ref. 2). Breeding males assume an intense bright metallic blue on the head, a vermilion edge to the dorsal fin and a more intense pink on the caudal margin (Ref. 2, 54467). Breeding females with the edges of dorsal and caudal fins in a paler more orange color (Ref. 2). Juveniles: upper line of head profile running upward from snout at sharp angle; lower pharyngeal bone nearly triangular, teeth numerous but not densely crowded; dorsal and anal fin striped, with stripes running obliquely on the soft dorsal and longitudinally on the caudal fin; black Tilapia-mark on soft dorsal present; body dark; lower lip developed from beneath (Ref. 54566).
IUCN Red List Status (Ref. 115185)
Threat to humans
Potential pest (Ref. 6465)
Human uses
Fisheries: highly commercial; aquaculture: commercial; aquarium: commercial; bait: usually
Tools
Special reports
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Internet sources
Estimates of some properties based on models
Phylogenetic diversity index
PD50 = 0.5000 many relatives (e.g. carps) 0.5 - 2.0 few relatives (e.g. lungfishes)
Trophic Level
2.1 ±0.0 se; Based on diet studies.
Resilience
High, minimum population doubling time less than 15 months (K=0.48-0.58; tm<1)
Vulnerability
Low to moderate vulnerability (27 of 100)
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