Singida tilapia

📖 Overview

Occasionally forms schools , mainly diurnal . Tolerant of low oxygen concentrations, less than 1 ppm, and high levels of carbon dioxide . A plankton-feeder using the mucus-trap mechanism combined with the combing action of the pharyngeal teeth ; the species is non-selective, in the sense that all organisms of a size capable of being retained by these means are passed into the stomach, but it is selective in that the schools follow concentrations of diatoms in the lake . Food consist almost entirely of phytoplankton , mainly diatoms , but also higher plants, insects and their larvae, crustaceans and worms like Tubifex; insect larvae and planktonic crustaceans occur less frequently although they may contribute to the diet of young fishes . A maternal mouthbrooder ; males make simple nests in shallow water . Ecologically, an offshore-living plankton feeder, which complemented the more inshore-living Oreochromis variabilis in the original ecosystem of Lake Victoria; these niches are now filled by the introduced Oreochromis niloticus and O. leucostictus respectively . Was a major component of the fisheries catch in Lake Victoria; supports artisanal fisheries in satellite lakes of Lake Victoria and forms a large part of the catch in Lake Rukwa, Nyumba ya Mungu and the central Tanzania lakes . Excellent taste, firm meat and suitable for sundrying . IUCN conservation status is critically endangered .

🔬 Taxonomy

🐟 Physical Description

Dorsal spines (total): 16 - 18; Dorsal soft rays (total): 10 - 11; Anal spines: 3; Anal soft rays: 10 - 12; Vertebrae: 30 - 31. Diagnosis: A large bodied tilapia with a small rounded head, short snout, forward-facing mouth, deep body, relatively small eye for the body size, and generally lacking any dark stripes or blotches . Females and non-territorial males typically pale grey, white ventrally; males are typically darker, especially in the head/dorsal region; breeding males have a reddish-pink head and flank, dark fins with red/pink dorsal margins, and red/pink caudal region . In contrast to Oreochromis rukwaensis, mature males of O. esculentus do not show enlarged jaws . Oreochromis esculentus differs from O. niloticus as follows: no vertical stripes on the caudal fin; lower numbers of soft dorsal rays and therefore of total dorsal rays; lower modal number of lower gill-rakers; finer teeth in jaws and pharynx; a longer lower pharyngeal bone, 33.0-35.5% length of head; caudal peduncle as long as or, usually, longer than deep; O. niloticus, in common with many other species, is often preserved with three or four midlateral spots and another on the top of the caudal peduncle, a pattern not found in O. esculentus; and male genital papilla opening between a pair of often spongy lobes, vs. papilla conical or with a slight distal notch in O. niloticus . : fusiform / normal.

🌀 Behaviour

Behavioural data for Singida tilapia is currently being reviewed.

🦐 Diet

Diet information for Singida tilapia is currently being compiled.

🥚 Reproduction

Reproduction probably triggered by the rains , with the time of maximum spawning activity coinciding with the wettest months of the year . Males form a crater-like spawning nest without a distinct wall . The pit is about 30cm in diameter and 10cm deep, and is probably made in the early morning . Ovaries show that a female may have a succession of three or more broods in a spawning period; brooding females often shelter in weed beds and swampy places . Males defend their breeding territory for weeks or on and off for several months, while females only make short visits to the spawning grounds and leave the territory immediately after spawning . Males eat little while actively guarding the nest . Papyrus swamp channels and beaches with weed grown swamps function as nursery areas. Young become independent at a length of about 1.5cm by which size the yolk sac is occluded and they have strated to feed , and at about 12cm TL they move from the nursery areas to the open water .

🌍 Habitat & Distribution

Freshwater; benthopelagic; depth range 0 - 50 m , usually ? - 20 m . Tropical; 23°C - 28°C central Tanzania lakes surrounding Dodoma and Tabora (Ref.

🌿 Ecology

📐 Morphometrics

🌡️ Water Parameters & Tolerance

🛡️ Conservation Assessment

📊 Population Risk & Fisheries

🍽️ Edibility & Flavour

"Singida tilapia is an edible species."

⚡ Nutrition

Detailed nutritional data for Singida tilapia is currently being compiled from USDA FoodData Central.

🔬 Mercury Safety

Mercury data for Singida tilapia has not yet been assigned. Please consult FDA/EPA guidance for general seafood safety advice.

🌿 Sustainability

🌐 Names & Taxonomy

🐠 Related Species

🔍 Similar Species

🗺️ Global Occurrence Map

Occurrence records from the Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF) - 9 records indexed .

👥 Community & Contribute