Tanganyika tilapia
📖 Overview
It is the dominant tilapiine species in Lake Tanganyika, despite the presence of the normally invasive Nile tilapia . It is not normally found far up into inflowing rivers . It has been reported to browse the surface film of sheltered waters; stomachs contained large quantities of the diatoms Pinnularia and Navicula with some sand-grains . A maternal mouthbrooder; males defend territories in shallow water in sheltered sandy or muddy areas, and dig simple pits in the substrate . A large fast-growing species well represented in fishery catches in and around Lake Tanganyika; currently being promoted as an aquaculture species and occasionally exported for the aquarium trade .
🔬 Taxonomy
🐟 Physical Description
Dorsal spines (total): 15 - 17; Dorsal soft rays (total): 11 - 15; Anal spines: 3; Vertebrae: 30 - 31. Diagnosis: A large, deep-bodied species, with wide bands of teeth in the jaws . Adult males are covered with complex bright pale blue markings, over the head, flanks and unpaired fins; the background colour can vary from greyish, through yellow to bright red; the lower part of the head is grey-white; the tailfin often head a red background and the dorsal fin has a broad red margin . Females and non-territorial males are generally a plain silvery colour, with pearly spots on the flanks; they occasionally exhibit vertical bars and/or horizontal dark bars . : short and / or deep; Cross section: compressed.
🌀 Behaviour
Behavioural data for Tanganyika tilapia is currently being reviewed.
🦐 Diet
Diet information for Tanganyika tilapia is currently being compiled.
🥚 Reproduction
A maternal mouthbrooder; males defend territories in shallow water in sheltered sandy or muddy areas, and dig simple pits in the substrate .
🌍 Habitat & Distribution
Freshwater; benthopelagic. Tropical; 24°C - 26°C ; 3°S - 9°S endemic to Lake Tanganyika, in the coastal area and river mouths (Ref.
🌿 Ecology
📐 Morphometrics
🌡️ Water Parameters & Tolerance
🛡️ Conservation Assessment
📊 Population Risk & Fisheries
🌐 Names & Taxonomy
| Language | Common Names |
|---|---|
| 🇬🇧English | Tanganyika Tilapia · Tanganyikan Tilapia |
| 🇩🇰Danish | Tanganyika-cichlide |
| 🇫🇮Finnish | tanganjikantilapia |
| 🇵🇹Portuguese | Tilápia-real |
| 🌍RUN | Ingege |
| 🇪🇸Spanish | Tilapia del Tanganica |
| 🌍SWA | Likoke (singular) · Makoke (plural) · Ngege |
🔍 Similar Species
🗺️ Global Occurrence Map
Occurrence records from the Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF) - 84 records indexed .
👥 Community & Contribute
No observations yet - be the first to log one!
View all observations for Tanganyika tilapia ↗Spotted incorrect or outdated data? Submit a correction and our editorial team will review it. Approved edits go live within 48 hours.
Found a factual error, broken data, or inappropriate content? Let us know and we will investigate promptly.