Redbreast Tilapia

Max length : 45.0 cm TL male/unsexed; max. published weight: 2.5 kg; max. reported age: 7 years

Africa: Kasai drainage (middle Congo River basin), throughout upper Congo River drainage, Lake Tanganyika, Lake Malawi, Zambesi, coastal areas from Zambesi Delta to Natal, Okavango and Cunene. Also in the Limpopo. Introduced elsewhere usually for weed control and aquaculture. Several countries report adverse ecological impact after introduction.

Dorsal spines (total): 15 - 17; Dorsal soft rays (total): 10-13; Anal spines: 3; Anal soft rays: 9 - 10; Vertebrae: 29. Head and body mid to dark olive-green dorsally, paling over the flanks. Body usually with vertical bars only and scales with a dark basal crescent. Dorsal fin olive-green with a thin red margin and white to grey dark oblique spots on the soft rays; caudal fin spotted on dorsal half and red or yellow on ventral half

Summary of Distribution:
Note: Distribution range colors indicate degree of suitability of habitat which can be interpreted as probabilities of occurrence (fishbase.org)