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💧 Freshwater Critically Endangered 🌡️ Tropical

Otjikoto tilapia

Tilapia guinasana Trewavas, 1936
Max Length
14 cm
Max Weight
Lifespan
Trophic Level
2
Depth
Climate
Tropical
Resilience
High
Vulnerability
16.00/100
Typical Length
Depth Zone

📖 Overview

Found in deep sinkhole lakes (100 m deep or more, e.g. introduced population in Lake Otjikoto, Namibia) with moderately clear water and with water temperatures ranging from 19 to 27°C . Omnivorous , but feeds mainly on algae and diatoms . Generally congregate, breed and feed from the near-vertical shores. Use narrow shelves for breeding, with established and defended territories, both parents guard and tend eggs. Threatened due to depletion of local groundwater resources and impact of introduced species . Individuals tend to display different color patterns ranging from pure black to mottled black and blue, pink and white . Biparental open-spawning species .

Scientific Name
Tilapia guinasana
Authority
Trewavas, 1936
Habitat
Freshwater
Climate
Tropical
IUCN Status
CR
Max Length
14 cm
Trophic Level
2
Resilience
High
Vulnerability
16.00/100
Water Temp
22–26 °C
Salinity
0–0.5 ppt

🔬 Taxonomy

🐟 Physical Description

color patterns ranging from pure black to mottled black and blue, pink and white .

🌀 Behaviour

Behavioural data for Otjikoto tilapia is currently being reviewed.

🦐 Diet

Diet information for Otjikoto tilapia is currently being compiled.

🥚 Reproduction

Spawn Location
Rocky

Nests are built on narrow rocky ledges and competition for these nest sites is very strong.

🌍 Habitat & Distribution

Freshwater; benthopelagic; pH range: 7.0 - 7.8; dH range: ? - 15. Tropical; 22°C - 26°C ; 19°S - 21°S endemic to Lake Guinas, Namibia.

🌿 Ecology

Zone Preferences
💧 Freshwater
Trophic Level
2
Food Items

algae and diatoms (Ref

📐 Morphometrics

Length–Weight Relationship: W = 0.01445 × L2.99 (TL)
Max TL
14cm

🌡️ Water Parameters & Tolerance

Temperature Range
22–26°C
pH Range
7–7.8
Salinity Range
0–0.5ppt

🛡️ Conservation Assessment

IUCN Category
Critically Endangered
Assessment Date
2007

📊 Population Risk & Fisheries

Population Resilience
High
Minimum doubling time
Fishing Vulnerability
16.00/100
Low vulnerability
Trophic Level
2
Omnivore / Planktivore
Climate Zone
Tropical
Described By
Trewavas, 1936

🗺️ Global Occurrence Map

Occurrence records from the Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF) — 7 records indexed .

Occurrence density from GBIF View GBIF records ↗

👥 Community & Contribute

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