Oreochromis mossambica

Local Name: Tilapia 

English : African mouthbrooder ,  Java tilapia ,  Largemouth kurper ,  Mozambique mouthbrooder ,  Tilapia ,  Kurper bream .

Habitat and Biology :Freshwater and brackish water inhabitants. Lives in warm, weedy pools of sluggish stream, canals, and ponds. Is mainly diurnal.Occurs at temperatures ranging from 8º to 42º C.  

The female usually incubates the spawn; the male should be removed as soon after spawning as possible.  May form schools.Omnivorous, feeds on almost anything from algae to insects but also crustaceans, and fishes.Can be reared under hypersaline conditions.

Spawn all year around when kept in warm water (above 20º C)

Fig. Oreochromis mossambica

Diagnostic features:

Body compressed; caudal peduncle longer than deep.  Scales cycloid.  A knob-like protuberance present behind upper jaw on dorsal surface of snout. Upper jaw length shows sexual dimorphism, and mouth of male larger than that of female.  First gill arch with 20 to 22 gillrakers.  Lateral line interrupted.  Spinous and soft ray parts of dorsal fin continuous. Dorsal fin with 15 to 18 spines and 10 to 13 soft rays. Anal fin with 3 spines and 9-10 rays. Caudal fin truncated.  Colour in spawning season, pectoral, dorsal and caudal fins becoming reddish; colour male shows much brighter orange tail than femal.

Size:  36cm