Nile Tilapia

• It is a maternal mouthbrooder: the female takes the fertilised eggs into her mouth, and the fry retreat back into it if they feel threatened.
• It is the most widely farmed tilapia in the world, and its invasiveness has led countries such as South Africa, Malawi and Zambia to ban further releases.

Skeleton type

Vertebrate - internal bony skeleton (bony fish)

Habitat and environment

Rivers, lakes, irrigation canals and brackish water in Africa, in the Nile, Senegal, Gambia, Volta, Niger, Benue and Chad basins; it tolerates 8 to 42 °C but not sea water

Sexual maturity

Length at first maturity 18.6 cm (range 6-28 cm); in the wild it breeds from 20-30 cm

Gestation / incubation

The female broods the eggs in her mouth for one or two weeks

Sources consulted: Wikipedia (es): Oreochromis niloticus