Redbelly tilapia

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Redbelly tilapia
Tizil u0.gif
St. Peter's Fish.jpg
Scientific classification OOjs UI icon edit-ltr.svg
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Actinopterygii
Order: Cichliformes
Family: Cichlidae
Genus: Coptodon
Species:
C. zillii
Binomial name
Coptodon zillii
(Gervais, 1848)
Synonyms [2]
  • Acerina zillii Gervais, 1848
  • Chromis zillii (Gervais, 1848)
  • Coptodus zillii (Gervais, 1848)
  • Glyphisidon zillii (Gervais, 1848)
  • Sarotherodon zillii (Gervais, 1848)
  • Tilapia zillii (Gervais, 1848)
  • Haligenes tristrami Günther, 1860
  • Chromis tristrami(Günther, 1860)
  • Tilapia tristrami(Günther, 1860)
  • Tilapia melanopleura Duméril, 1861
  • Chromis melanopleura(Duméril, 1861)
  • Chromis andreaeGünther, 1864
  • Chromis coeruleomaculatus Rochebrune, 1880
  • Chromis faidherbiiRochebrune, 1880
  • Chromis menzalensis Mitchell, 1895
  • Tilapia menzalensis(Mitchell, 1895)
  • Tilapia multiradiata Holly, 1928
  • Tilapia shariensis Fowler, 1949

The redbelly tilapia (Coptodon zillii, syn. Tilapia zillii), also known as the Zille's redbreast tilapia or St. Peter's fish (a name also used for other tilapia in Israel), is a species of fish in the cichlid family. This fish is found widely in fresh and brackish waters in the northern half of Africa and the Middle East. [1] [3] Elsewhere in Africa, Asia, Australia and North America, it has been introduced as a food fish or as a control of aquatic vegetation. Where introduced, it sometimes becomes invasive, threatening the local ecology and species. [3] [4] [5] [6] The redbelly tilapia is an important food fish and sometimes aquacultured. [3] [4]

Contents

The species was named by Paul Gervais in honor of M. (probably Monsieur) Zill, a “distinguished naturalist” who collected the type specimen and sent it to Gervais. [7] [ failed verification ]

Native distribution and taxonomy

In Africa, the native range of the redbelly tilapia covers the northern half of the continent. In tropical West to Central Africa, from coastal southern Morocco and the Senegal River to the central Congo River basin, its range is almost continuous. [3] [8] In northeastern Africa the redbelly tilapia occurs throughout much of the Nile basin, from its delta in northern Egypt to Lake Albert in DR Congo–Uganda, as well Lake Turkana in Ethiopia–Kenya; it is not native to the other African Great Lakes, although it has been introduced to some of them. [1] [3] [4] In the Maghreb and Sahara where fewer aquatic habitats are available, the range is much more spotty but with several relict populations in seasonal rivers, lakes and oases (gueltas). [8] [9] Outside Africa, its natural distribution is limited to the Jordan River system, including Lake Tiberias (Kinneret), in Israel, Jordan and Syria, as well as coastal systems in Israel. [3] [10]

Cichlids are numerous in Africa, but in parts of the redbelly tilapia's range it is one of the few members of the family. In the Maghreb and Sahara (excluding the species-rich Nile), the only others are the blue tilapia (Oreochromis aureus) and mango tilapia (Sarotherodon galilaeus), and a couple of Astatotilapia and Hemichromis species. [8] [9] [11] In Western Asia, the only other native cichlids are a few species of oreochromine tilapias and the Jordan mouthbrooder (Astatotilapia flaviijosephi). [10] [12]

Although genetic studies have shown that most populations of the redbelly tilapia are very closely related, [13] a few from the outer margins of its range are of questionable taxonomic status and require further study. A population in the Kisangani region, although closely related, appears to be separate. [13] Similarly, those found in coastal northwestern Africa are genetically quite distinct from the other populations. [8] In the Nile system, it has been observed that populations in its delta, the northern White Nile and lakes near Fayum differ from each other in morphology and colors, but whether this is taxonomically significant is unclear. In contrast, the virtually unknown C. ismailiaensis of northeastern Egypt might only be an aberrant redbelly tilapia; it primarily differs in its unspotted tail. [14]

Habitat and ecology

The redbelly tilapia has a preference for shallow waters with vegetation, [3] but it also occurs in more open habitats like sandy shores and as deep as 30 m (100 ft). [1]

Although primarily a species of fresh and brackish water habitats, it tolerates high salinities, up to 4% (sea water is c. 3.5%), but the upper breeding limit is at 2.9%. [10] The redbelly tilapia also can live in a wide range of water temperatures, but in the northern part of its range it sometimes falls below its requirements (minimum 6.5–13 °C [43.7–55.4 °F], depending on a range of factors), resulting in large numbers dying. [10] In Alabama, it was necessary to introduce them each year to maintain a population, as they die during the winter. [5] The upper limit typically is 36 °C (97 °F), but it can survive to 42.5 °C (108.5 °F). [3]

Appearance

The redbelly tilapia can reach up to 300 g (11 oz) in weight and 40 cm (16 in) in length, but usually is no more than 30 cm (12 in). [3] In the Middle East, adults typically are 12–22 cm (5–9 in) long. [10] Males tend to grow larger than females, but otherwise the sexes are similar. [4]

Its base color is brownish-olivaceous and the belly is yellowish or whitish. It often (for example, when agitated) has a faint/poorly defined dark pattern consisting of two horizontal lines on the body crossed by about half a dozen vertical bars. Breeding adults are more greenish overall, have iridescent blue-green spots on the head and bright pinkish-red underparts. [3] [15] This species very closely resembles the redbreast tilapia (C. rendalli) and the two are difficult to distinguish; many reports of introduced populations may involve either species. [4] [5] The two have separate natural distribution (redbelly tilapia in the northern half of Africa, redbreast tilapia in the southern half), but through introductions their ranges now overlap. Whether they can hybridize is unknown. [4] It has hybridized with the spotted tilapia (Pelmatolapia mariae), [16] a quite distant relative. [13]

Behavior

Young redbelly tilapias Coptodons zillii (Tilapia zillii) Algeria.jpg
Young redbelly tilapias

As typical of Coptodon , the redbelly tilapia is a substrate spawner and brooder. The "nest" typically is a small depression in the bottom that is dug by both parents, [4] [5] but sometimes the eggs are placed on the top of a stone or the "nest" is an up to 85-centimetre-deep (2.8 ft) tunnel that is dug into muddy substrate. [10] Several pairs may breed quite closely together forming a colony. Each female lays 1,000–6,000 eggs per spawning and she may spawn multiple times in a season. [15] Both parents guard the eggs and fry. [4] [5] [10] In tropical locations it breeds year-round, although peaking in the rainy season. [1] [5] In colder subtropical regions like Israel it only breeds in the summer, [5] [10] at water temperatures of at least 20 °C (68 °F). [15] All other cichlids native to Western Asia are mouthbrooders. [10]

The redbelly tilapia mostly feeds on algae and higher plants (both aquatic plants and land plants that become accessible to the fish), but it also takes smaller quantities of invertebrates and fish eggs. [4] [5] Young redbelly tilapias feed extensively on tiny crustaceans. [15]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cichlid</span> Family of fishes

Cichlids are fish from the family Cichlidae in the order Cichliformes. Traditionally Cichlids were classed in a suborder, the Labroidei, along with the wrasses (Labridae), in the order Perciformes, but molecular studies have contradicted this grouping. On the basis of fossil evidence, it first appeared in Tanzania during the Eocene epoch, about 46–45 million years ago. The closest living relative of cichlids is probably the convict blenny, and both families are classified in the 5th edition of Fishes of the World as the two families in the Cichliformes, part of the subseries Ovalentaria. This family is large, diverse, and widely dispersed. At least 1,650 species have been scientifically described, making it one of the largest vertebrate families. New species are discovered annually, and many species remain undescribed. The actual number of species is therefore unknown, with estimates varying between 2,000 and 3,000.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tilapia</span> Common name for many species of fish

Tilapia is the common name for nearly a hundred species of cichlid fish from the coelotilapine, coptodonine, heterotilapine, oreochromine, pelmatolapiine, and tilapiine tribes, with the economically most important species placed in the Coptodonini and Oreochromini. Tilapia are mainly freshwater fish inhabiting shallow streams, ponds, rivers, and lakes, and less commonly found living in brackish water. Historically, they have been of major importance in artisanal fishing in Africa, and they are of increasing importance in aquaculture and aquaponics. Tilapia can become a problematic invasive species in new warm-water habitats such as Australia, whether deliberately or accidentally introduced, but generally not in temperate climates due to their inability to survive in cold water.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jewel cichlid</span> Genus of fish

Hemichromis is a genus of fishes from the cichlid family, known in the aquarium trade as jewel cichlids. Jewel cichlids are native to Africa. Within West Africa, Hemichromis species are found in creeks, streams, rivers and lakes with a variety of water qualities including brackish water lagoons. As traditionally defined, the genus includes two distinctly different groups: The five-spotted cichlid group and the true jewel cichlid group (Rubricatochromis), which sometimes are recognized as distinct genera.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Nile tilapia</span> Species of fish

The Nile tilapia is a species of tilapia, a cichlid fish native to parts of Africa and the Levant, particularly Israel and Lebanon. Numerous introduced populations exist outside its natural range. It is also commercially known as mango fish, nilotica, or boulti.

<i>Oreochromis</i> Genus of fishes

Oreochromis is a large genus of oreochromine cichlids, fishes endemic to Africa and the Middle East. A few species from this genus have been introduced far outside their native range and are important in aquaculture. Many others have very small ranges; some are seriously threatened, and O. ismailiaensis and O. lidole possibly are extinct. Although Oreochromis primarily are freshwater fish of rivers, lakes and similar habitats, several species can also thrive in brackish waters and some even survive in hypersaline conditions with a salinity that far surpasses that of seawater. In addition to overfishing and habitat loss, some of the more localized species are threatened by the introduction of other, more widespread Oreochromis species into their ranges. This is because they—in addition to competing for the local resources—often are able to hybridize.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Aquaculture of tilapia</span> Third most important fish in aquaculture after carp and salmon

Tilapia has become the third most important fish in aquaculture after carp and salmon; worldwide production exceeded 1.5 million metric tons in 2002 and increases annually. Because of their high protein content, large size, rapid growth, and palatability, a number of coptodonine and oreochromine cichlids—specifically, various species of Coptodon, Oreochromis, and Sarotherodon—are the focus of major aquaculture efforts.

Throughout much of the tropics, tilapiine cichlids native to Africa and the Levant have been widely introduced into a variety of aquatic systems. In the U.S. states of Florida and Texas, tilapia were originally introduced to curtail invasive plants. In an effort to meet the growing demand for tilapia, humans have farmed these fish in countries around the world. Capable of establishing themselves into new ponds and waterways, many tilapia have escaped aquaculture facilities across much of Asia, Africa, and South America. In other cases, tilapia have been established into new aquatic habitats via aquarists or ornamental fish farmers.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mozambique tilapia</span> Species of fish

The Mozambique tilapia is an oreochromine cichlid fish native to southeastern Africa. Dull colored, the Mozambique tilapia often lives up to a decade in its native habitats. It is a popular fish for aquaculture. Due to human introductions, it is now found in many tropical and subtropical habitats around the globe, where it can become an invasive species because of its robust nature. These same features make it a good species for aquaculture because it readily adapts to new situations. It is known as black tilapia in Colombia and as blue kurper in South Africa.

<i>Alcolapia</i> Genus of fishes

Alcolapia is a genus of small fishes in the family Cichlidae. Their native range is restricted to margins of Lake Natron and Lake Magadi, as well as similar conditions in nearby hot springs, in Kenya and Tanzania. They live in waters that are warm, hypersaline and alkaline. Species from this genus have also been introduced to Lake Nakuru and Lake Elmenteita. They are the only fish in their range.

Astatotilapia flaviijosephi, the Jordan mouthbrooder, is a vulnerable species of freshwater fish in the family Cichlidae (cichlids). It is found in the central Jordan River system, including Lake Tiberias (Kinneret), in Israel, Jordan and Syria, making it the only haplochromine cichlid to naturally range outside of Africa. This species is too small to be of significant importance to fisheries, unlike the only other cichlids native to the Levant, the economically important tilapias.

<i>Coptodon deckerti</i> Species of fish

Coptodon deckerti is a critically endangered species of fish in the cichlid family, endemic to Lake Ejagham in western Cameroon. It is threatened by pollution and sedimentation from human activities, and potentially also by emissions of carbon dioxide (CO2) from the lake's bottom (compare Lake Nyos), although Ejagham is too shallow to contain very high amounts of this gas. A species of catfish from the genus Parauchenoglanis has recently been introduced to the lake, and this probably presents a serious threat to the endemic cichlids.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Redbreast tilapia</span> Species of fish

The redbreast tilapia is a species of fish in the family Cichlidae. It is found widely in the southern half of Africa. Its natural habitats are freshwater lakes and freshwater marshes. It is known as the redbreast kurper in South Africa.

Coptodon thysi is a critically endangered species of fish in the cichlid family. It is endemic to Lake Bermin in Cameroon. It is threatened by pollution and sedimentation from human activities, and potentially also by large emissions of carbon dioxide (CO2) from the lake's bottom (compare Lake Nyos), although Bermin is too shallow to contain very high amounts of this gas. The specific name honours the Dutch ichthyologist Dirk Thys van den Audenaerde (b. 1934), a pioneer of the study of tilapine cichlids in Africa.

<i>Tristramella</i> Genus of fishes

Tristramella is a genus of oreochromines, freshwater fishes in the cichlid family. The members of this genus prefer standing waters and their native range is restricted to the Jordan River system, including Lake Tiberias (Kinneret), in Israel and Syria, with introduced populations in a few other places in Syria. Its members are among the few cichlids native to Western Asia, the others being Astatotilapia flaviijosephi, Coptodon zillii, Iranocichla, Oreochromis aureus, O. niloticus and Sarotherodon galilaeus.

<i>Oreochromis aureus</i> Species of fish

The blue tilapia is a species of tilapia, a fish in the family Cichlidae. Native to Northern and Western Africa, and the Middle East, through introductions it is now also established elsewhere, including parts of the United States, where it has been declared an invasive species and has caused significant environmental damage. It is known as the blue kurper in South Africa.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mango tilapia</span> Species of fish

The mango tilapia is a species of fish from the cichlid family that is native to fresh and brackish waters in Africa and the Levant. Other common names include Galilaea tilapia, Galilean comb, Galilee St. Peter's fish, and St. Peter's fish. This is a relatively large cichlid at up to 41 centimetres (16 in) in total length and about 1.6 kilograms (3.5 lb) in weight. It is very important to local fisheries and the species is also aquacultured.

<i>Tilapia sparrmanii</i> Species of fish

Tilapia sparrmanii, the banded tilapia, or vlei kurper, is a widespread and adaptable cichlid fish that is found in warmer freshwater habitats of southern Africa. They prefer water with ample plant cover, and occur naturally as far north as DR Congo and Tanzania. They have been introduced locally in the northern hemisphere. Younger banded tilapia feed on crustaceans and insect larvae, while the adults feed on terrestrial and aquatic plants and other debris. They undertake local migrations and may shoal before and during spawning time. They guard their own eggs, and although they may move eggs or fry in the mouth, they are not known to be actual mouthbrooders like several other tilapia species. This species can reach a length of 23.5 centimetres (9.3 in) TL and is an important foodfish.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Fishing on Lake Victoria</span>

Lake Victoria supports Africa's largest inland fishery, with the majority of the catch being the invasive Nile perch, introduced in the Lake in the 1950s.

<i>Coptodon</i> Genus of cichlids

Coptodon is a genus of cichlids native to fresh, brackish and coastal marine waters in Africa with C. zillii also found in the Middle East. It is the only genus in the tribe Coptodonini. Formerly included in Tilapia, this genus and tribe was separated in 2013. Despite the change in genus, Coptodon spp. are still referred to by the common name tilapia. Several species are important in local fisheries and a few are aquacultured.

<i>Hemichromis letourneuxi</i> Species of fish

Hemichromis letourneuxi is a species of cichlid which is native to West Africa and is popular in the aquarium hobby and it has been introduced to the Caribbean and the south-east United States where it is invasive.

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 Lalèyè, P. (2020). "Coptodon zillii". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species . 2020: e.T183163A64508317. doi: 10.2305/IUCN.UK.2020-2.RLTS.T183163A64508317.en . Retrieved 20 November 2021.
  2. ↑ Froese, Rainer; Pauly, Daniel (eds.) (2019). "Coptodon zillii" in FishBase. December 2019 version.
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 Froese, Rainer; Pauly, Daniel (eds.) (2019). "Coptodon zillii" in FishBase . November 2019 version.
  4. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 Genner, M.J.; G.F. Turner; B.P. Ngatunga (2018). "A Guide to Tilapia Fishes of Tanzania" (PDF). Retrieved 10 November 2019.
  5. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 Nico, L.; M. Neilson; B. Loftus (2019). "Tilapia zillii (Gervais, 1848)". U.S. Geological Survey, Nonindigenous Aquatic Species Database. Retrieved 10 November 2019.
  6. ↑ "Tilapia zillii (redbelly tilapia)". CABI – Invasive Species Compendium. 2019. Retrieved 13 November 2019.
  7. ↑ Christopher Scharpf & Kenneth J. Lazara (22 September 2018). "Order CICHLIFORMES: Family CICHLIDAE: PSEUDOCRENILABRINAE (a-g)". The ETYFish Project Fish Name Etymology Database. Christopher Scharpf and Kenneth J. Lazara. Retrieved 19 February 2021.
  8. 1 2 3 4 Clavero, M.; A. Qninba; M. Riesco; J. Esquivias; J. Calzada; M. Delibes (2017). "Moroccan desert rivers: fish on the arid extreme of Mediterranean streams". Fishes in Mediterranean Environments. 003: 1–21. doi: 10.29094/FiSHMED.2017.003 .
  9. 1 2 Trape, S. (2016). "A new cichlid fish in the Sahara: The Ounianga Serir lakes (Chad), a biodiversity hotspot in the desert". Comptes Rendus Biologies. 339 (11–12): 529–536. doi:10.1016/j.crvi.2016.08.003. PMID   27720144.
  10. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 Gophen, M. (2018). Ecological Research in the Lake Kinneret and Hula Valley (Israel) Ecosystems. pp. 252–263.
  11. ↑ Trape, S. (2018). "Epiplatys bifasciatus (Steindachner, 1881) (Nothobranchiidae) and Hemichromis fasciatus Peters, 1852 (Cichlidae), two relict fish species in the Sahara desert". Bonn Zoological Bulletin. 67 (1): 37–40.
  12. ↑ Werner, N.Y.; O. Mokady (2004). "Swimming out of Africa: mitochondrial DNA evidence for late Pliocene dispersal of a cichlid from Central Africa to the Levant". Biological Journal of the Linnean Society. 82 (1): 103–109. doi: 10.1111/j.1095-8312.2004.00321.x . S2CID   55300630.
  13. 1 2 3 Dunz, A.R.; U.K. Schliewen (2013). "Molecular phylogeny and revised classification of the haplotilapiine cichlid fishes formerly referred to as "Tilapia"". Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution. 68 (1): 64–80. doi:10.1016/j.ympev.2013.03.015. PMID   23542002.
  14. ↑ Neumann, D.; H. Obermaier; T. Moritz (2016). "Annotated checklist for fishes of the Main Nile Basin in the Sudan and Egypt based on recent specimen records (2006-2015)". Cybium. 40 (4): 287–317. doi:10.26028/cybium/2016-404-004.
  15. 1 2 3 4 "California Fish Website — Tilapia". University of California. 2019. Retrieved 12 November 2019.
  16. ↑ Taylor, J.N.; D.B. Snyder; W.R. Courtenay, Jr. (1986). "Hybridization between Two Introduced, Substrate-Spawning Tilapias (Pisces: Cichlidae) in Florida". Copeia. 1986 (4): 903–909. doi:10.2307/1445286. JSTOR   1445286.
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