A Nile tilapia photographed in Nairobi, Kenya.

Nile tilapia at the Snake Park in Nairobi.

Creator: Bjørn Christian Tørrissen

Licence: CC BY-SA 3.0

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Species record

Nile Tilapia

Oreochromis niloticus

Explore the Nile Tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) species record in The Ark Is Earth, including classification, habitat, distribution, conservation information, and sources.

Summary

The Nile Tilapia is a freshwater cichlid native to lakes and rivers in Africa. It is widely farmed and introduced elsewhere, including parts of Asia and South America, because it grows quickly and tolerates warm water. Farmed strains are managed for food, while escaped or deliberately released fish can compete with native species.

Classification in this archive

  1. Kingdom: Animals
  2. Phylum: Chordates
  3. Subphylum: Vertebrates
  4. Class: Actinopterygii
  5. Order: Cichliformes
  6. Family: Cichlidae
  7. Genus: Oreochromis
  8. Species: Oreochromis niloticus

Habitat and distribution

Selected documented locations — not a complete species range.

Habitat
lakes, rivers, fish farms
Selected regions
Africa, Asia, South America
Selected countries
Egypt, Uganda, China, Brazil

Conservation status

The Ark records: Least Concern.

Did you know?

  • Female Nile tilapia carry their eggs in their mouths until they hatch.
  • Adult Nile tilapia live in freshwater habitats such as rivers and lakes.

More images

A Nile tilapia in Carwash Cenote, Quintana Roo, Mexico.

Nile tilapia in Carwash Cenote, Mexico.

Creator: Bernard DUPONT

Licence: CC BY-SA 2.0

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Sources and attribution