Mozambique Tilapia 
Mozambique Tilapia
Oreochromis mossambicus
Family, Genus, Class & Etymology
| Family | Cichlidae |
| Description | Cichlids |
| Environment | Fresh, Brackish & Marine |
| Etymology | Greek, kichle = a kind of fish |
| Genus | 224 |
| No. of Species | 1687 |
| Order | Perciformes |
| Class | Actinopterygii |
| Reproductive Guild | Bearers & Guarders |
| Distribution | Cichlids are distributed in fresh- and brackish waters in Central and South America, Texas (1 species), West Indies, Africa, Madagascar, Syria, Israel, Iran, Sri Lanka, and coastal southern India. Only one species occurs in true marine waters Tilapia guineensis (Günther, 1862). Some species widely introduced. Body shape quite variable, mostly moderately deep and compressed. A nostril on each side of head. Interrupted lateral line in most species. Scales in lateral lines may be over 100, usually 20-50. Dorsal fin usually with 7-25 spines and 5-30 soft rays. Spines in anal fin 3-15 (generally 3); soft rays 4-15 (a few with 30). Subocular shelf absent. About 80 cm maximum length, in Boulengerochromis microlepis. Colorful cichlids are reared as aquarium fish. Breeding activities highly organized. Parental care in 3 forms: mouthbrooding, substratebrooding, and substratebrooding of eggs then mouthbrooding of young. Species flocks are reported from Africa. CLOFFSCA: The cichlids are the most species-rich non-Ostariophysan fish family in freshwaters world-wide, and one of the major vertebrate families, with at least 1300 species and with estimates approaching 1900 species (Kullander, 1998). The geographical distribution includes freshwaters of Africa (900 valid species, estimated more than 1300 species), the Jordan Valley in the Middle East (four species), Iran (one species), southern India and Sri Lanka (3 species, also in brackish water), Madagascar (17 valid species, some also in brackish water), Cuba and Hispaniola (4 valid species, some in brackish water), North America and isthmian Central America (95 valid species), and South America (290 valid species ) (Kullander, 1998, updated). Cichlids are known by family or genus-level local names, commonly with an adjective to distinguish well-marked species. Higher level names include bujurqui (Peru, most cichlids), acará (Brazil, most cichlids), mochoroca (Venezuela), mojarra (Ecuador, Colombia, throughout Central America), krobia (Surinam), prapra (French Guiana). Cichla species are known locally as pavón (Venezuela, Colombia) or tucunaré (Brazil, Peru), the latter name expressed as lukanani (Guyana), toekoenali (Surinam), toukounaré (French Guiana) or similar names in the Guianas. Crenicichla species are known as jacundá in Brazil, añashúa in Peru, angoumot (French Guiana), mataguaro (Colombia, Venezuela), datra fisi (Surinam), cabeza amarga (Argentina and Uruguay). Cichlids are recognized by several unambiguous anatomical synapomorphies. 1. |
Other "Popular" Names for this Fish
Hawaiian Sunfish