Oreochromis niloticus
Nile tilapia |
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| Male, Democratic Republic of Congo |
| Scientific classification |
| Kingdom: |
Animalia |
| Phylum: |
Chordata |
| Class: |
Actinopterygii |
| Order: |
Perciformes |
| Family: |
Cichlidae |
| Genus: |
Oreochromis |
| Species: |
O. niloticus |
| Binomial name |
Oreochromis niloticus
(Linnaeus, 1758) |
| Synonyms |
- Chromis guentheri Steindachner, 1864
- Chromis nilotica (Linnaeus, 1758)
- Chromis niloticus (Linnaeus, 1758)
- Oreochromis nilotica (Linnaeus, 1758)
- Oreochromis nilotics (Linnaeus, 1758)
- Perca nilotica Linnaeus, 1758
- Sarotherodon niloticus (Linnaeus, 1758)
- Tilapia calciati Gianferrari, 1924
- Tilapia nilotica (Linnaeus, 1758)
- Tilapia nilotica nilotica (Linnaeus, 1758)
- Tilapia nilotious (Linnaeus, 1758)
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The Nile tilapia, Oreochromis niloticus is a relatively large cichlid fish native to Africa from Egypt south to East and Central Africa, and as far west as Gambia. It is also native to Israel, and numerous introduced populations exist outside its natural range (e.g. Brazil).[1]
It is also commercially known as mango fish, Nilotica or boulti.[2][not in citation given] The first name leads to easy confusion with another tilapia that is traded commercially, the mango tilapia (Sarotherodon galilaeus).
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Contents
- 1 Description
- 2 Aquaculture
- 3 Gastronomy
- 4 Systematics
- 5 Medical significance
- 6 See also
- 7 References
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Description
The Nile tilapia has distinctive, regular, vertical stripes extending as far down the body as the bottom edge of the caudal fin, with variable coloration. Adults reach up to 60 cm (24 in) in length and up to 4.3 kg (9.5 lb). It lives for up to 9 years. It tolerates brackish water and survives temperatures between 8 and 42 °C (46 and 108 °F).
It has been variously reported in the literature to be a plankton feeder, an omnivore, and to feed on higher plants to the extent it may be used in control of aquatic weeds. Introduced tilapia can, on the other hand, easily become an invasive species (see Tilapia as exotic species).
It is a species of high economic value and is widely introduced outside its natural range; probably next to the Mozambique tilapia (O. mossambicus), it is the most commonly cultured cichlid.[citation needed]
Aquaculture
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:
If used as part of a phonogram, it represented the sound ỉn:
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.[3] 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.[6]
The Nile tilapia has recently been discovered in a small stream in central Arkansas. This invasive species may harm the other aquatic life present in this stream within the next few years, depending on how quickly it is able to reproduce and how adapted it is to competition with other aquatic vertebrates. As of yet, evidence supports the possibility that the Nile tilapia has established a strong breeding ground and will eventually endanger other fish species, possibly competitively exclude them.
In the Philippines
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National Tilapia Research and Development Program (NTRDP)[1] - Red Nile Tilapia[2][3][4]Oreochromis niloticus
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Red nile tilapia under the experiment (CLSU), Philippines.)
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Red nile tilapia for breeding
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The fingerlings in breeding tubes
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Water sprinklers for aeration of the fingerlings
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Gastronomy
Pla thapthim at Thanin market in Chiang Mai
Live
pla nin on a table at a Thai market
The red-hybrid Oreochromis niloticus is known in the Thai language as pla thapthim (Thai: ปลาทับทิม), meaning "pomegranate fish" or "ruby fish".[4] This type of tilapia is very popular in Thai cuisine where it is prepared in a variety of ways.[5]
The black and white striped tilapia pla nin (Thai: ปลานิล), meaning "Nile fish", is commonly either salted and grilled or deep-fried, and it can also be steamed with lime (pla nin nueng manao).[6]
Systematics
- Baringo tilapia, Oreochromis niloticus baringoensis Trewavas, 1983
- Oreochromis niloticus cancellatus[verification needed] (Nichols, 1923)
- Oreochromis niloticus eduardianus[verification needed] (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[7] (Trewavas, 1933)
The forms referred to as Oreochromis (or Tilapia) "Nyabikere" and "Kabagole" seem to belong to this species, too. An undescribed[verification needed] population found at, for example, Wami River, Lake Manyara and Tingaylanda seems to be a close relative.[8]
Medical significance
In a recent research in Kenya, as this fish can feed on mosquito larvae, it could be used in the fight against malaria in Africa.[9]
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
- Froese, Rainer, and Daniel Pauly, eds. (2005). "Oreochromis niloticus" in FishBase. November 2005 version.
- "Oreochromis niloticus". Integrated Taxonomic Information System. http://www.itis.gov/servlet/SingleRpt/SingleRpt?search_topic=TSN&search_value=553310. Retrieved 11 March 2006.
- Bardach, J.E.; Ryther, J.H. & McLarney, W.O. (1972): Aquaculture. the Farming and Husbandry of Freshwater and Marine Organisms. John Wiley & Sons.
- Nagl, Sandra; Tichy, Herbert; Mayer, Werner E.; Samonte, Irene E.; McAndrew, Brendan J. & Klein, Jan (2001): Classification and Phylogenetic Relationships of African Tilapiine Fishes Inferred from Mitochondrial DNA Sequences. Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution 20(3): 361–374. doi:10.1006/mpev.2001.0979
- ^ Azevedo-Santos, V. M.; Costa-Neto, E. M.; Lima-Stripari, N. 2010. Concepção dos pescadores artesanais que utilizam o reservatório de Furnas, Estado de Minas Gerais, acerca dos recursos pesqueiros: um estudo etnoictiológico. Revista Biotemas, 23 (4): 135-145
- ^ Nile Tilapia. Seafood Portal.
- ^ [5]
- ^ Management Guidelines of Red Tilapia Culture in Cages, Trang Province (Thai)
- ^ Recipes for Thaptim Fish
- ^ Fish breeding in Thailand
- ^ Kingdon, Jonathan (1989). Island Africa: The Evolution of Africa's Rare Plants and Animals. Princeton, New Jersey: Princeton University Press. pp. 221–222. ISBN 0-691-08560-9.
- ^ .(Nagl et al. 2001)
- ^ "Nile Tilapia can fight malaria mosquitoes", BBC News 8th August 2007.
