Oreochromis aureus
| Oreochromis aureus | |
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| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Actinopterygii |
| Order: | Perciformes |
| Family: | Cichlidae |
| Subfamily: | Pseudocrenilabrinae |
| Tribe: | Tilapiini |
| Genus: | Oreochromis |
| Species: | O. aureus |
| Binomial name | |
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Oreochromis aureus (Steindachner, 1864) |
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| Synonyms | |
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The blue tilapia or Israeli tilapia, Oreochromis aureus, is a species of fish in the Cichlidae family. Native to Northern and Western Africa, and the Middle East, through introductions it is now also established elsewhere, including parts of the United States, where it has been declared an invasive species and has caused significant environmental damage. It is known as blue kurper in South Africa.
The blue tilapia is a freshwater fish with a high tolerance for brackish water. Adults are usually 5 to 8 in (13 to 20 cm) in length and weigh 5 to 6 lb (2.3 to 2.7 kg); the largest recorded specimen was more than 21 inches (53 cm) long and weighed more than 10 pounds (4.5 kg). Blue tilapia are mouthbrooders, and broods range from 160 to 1600 eggs per female.O. aureus is primarily herbivorous, but will occasionally consume zooplankton; the young include small invertebrates in their diet.
The blue tilapia is native to Northern and Western Africa, and the Middle East, from the Senegal, Niger, Benue and lower Nile Rivers in Africa to the Jordan River in the Middle East. Through introductions, the fish can be found in the United States in Texas, Alabama, Florida, and Nevada. It has also been established in Central and South America, and Southeast Asia. The original stocks of O. aureus in the United States were from Israel.
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Wikipedia