Greenhead tilapia

Oreochromis macrochir

Greenhead tilapia — Oreochromis macrochir
  • Freshwater
  • Vulnerable
Max length
43 cm
Classification
Class
Teleostei
Order
Cichliformes
Family
Cichlidae
Genus
Oreochromis
Distribution
  • Africa - Inland waters
  • North America - Inland waters

About the greenhead tilapia

Oreochromis macrochir (longfin tilapia, greenhead tilapia, or greenhead bream) is a species of cichlid native to the Zambezi Basin, Lake Mweru, and Lake Bangweulu. It has been used extensively for stocking ponds and dams in other parts of southern Africa, but is little-used elsewhere. In Lake Mweru, it is economically the most important fish. The fish was introduced into Lake Alaotra in Madagascar in 1954, and proliferated quickly. By 1957, it provided 46% of the catch, perhaps because it was moving into an empty ecological niche as a phytophagous species.

This species reaches a maximum length of 43 cm (17 in). It lives in fresh water at a depth of 5 to 14 m (16 to 46 ft) in tropical climates with average temperatures between 18 and 35 °C (64 and 95 °F).

Description from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA.

Where the greenhead tilapia lives

Distribution data from GBIF (DOI: 10.15468/dl.8rzs8d).

Also known as

Where to catch greenhead tilapia

Related species