нилска тилапија

Body compressed; caudal peduncle depth equal to length. Scales cycloid. A knob-like protuberance absent on dorsal surface of snout. Upper jaw length showing no sexual dimorphism. First gill arch with 27 to 33 gillrakers. Lateral line interrupted. Spinous and soft ray parts of dorsal fin continuous. Dorsal fin with 16 - 17 spines and 11 to 15 soft rays. Anal fin with 3 spines and 10-11 rays. Caudal fin truncated. Colour in spawning season, pectoral, dorsal and caudal fins becoming reddish; caudal fin with numerous black bars.

To 62 cm; weight 3.650 g (reported age 9 years).

Occurs at a temperature range of 8& to 42&C, in a wide variety of freshwater habitats. Is mainly diurnal.Feeds mainly on phytoplankton or benthic algae. Eggs and larvae nursed in mouth of female. Omnivorous, but relying more heavily on plants.

Caught with seines, gillnets and trawls. Cultured in hot spring areas. The total catch reported for this species to FAO for 1999 was 230 445 t. The countries with the largest catches were Egypt (112 811 t) and Thailand (53 000 t). Marketed fresh and frozen.