Teleostei (teleosts) >
Cichliformes (Cichlids, convict blennies) >
Cichlidae (Cichlids) > Pseudocrenilabrinae
Etymology: Oreochromis: Latin, aurum = gold + Greek, chromis = a fish, perhaps a perch (Ref. 45335).
More on author: Günther.
Environment: milieu / climate zone / depth range / distribution range
Ecology
Freshwater; brackish; benthopelagic. Tropical; 24°C - 28°C (Ref. 2059); 23°N - 7°S
Africa: Coastal rivers of Kenya from the Mwena River to the lower Athi below Lugard's Falls; also near its mouth, including Lake Chem Chem; Lower and middle Tana River, Northern Uaso Nyiro, Juba system and Webi Shebeli; Nguruman; and Ethiopia (Ref. 5166). Probably also in Lake Momello, south of the Kenya-Tanzania border (Ref. 5166, 118638). Three subspecies are recognized: Oreochromis spilurus niger, Oreochromis spilurus percivali and Oreochromis spilurus spilurus.
Size / Weight / Age
Maturity: Lm ? range ? - ? cm
Max length : 19.2 cm SL male/unsexed; (Ref. 2); 16.3 cm (female)
Feeds on insects, plants and diatoms (Ref. 2).
Life cycle and mating behavior
Maturity | Reproduction | Spawning | Eggs | Fecundity | Larvae
Spawns in shallow water with shelving bottom in ponds. Size of first spawning depends on population density (lower at higher densities). Mating pit is the size and shape of a saucer. Eggs probably fertilized before being taken into the mouth by the female, or are fertilized inside the mouth (Ref. 2).
Trewavas, E., 1983. Tilapiine fishes of the genera Sarotherodon, Oreochromis and Danakilia. British Mus. Nat. Hist., London, UK. 583 p. (Ref. 2)
IUCN Red List Status (Ref. 130435: Version 2024-1)
Threat to humans
Harmless
Human uses
Fisheries: commercial; aquaculture: commercial; aquarium: commercial
Tools
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Estimates based on models
Phylogenetic diversity index (Ref.
82804): PD
50 = 0.5000 [Uniqueness, from 0.5 = low to 2.0 = high].
Bayesian length-weight: a=0.01862 (0.00830 - 0.04177), b=3.01 (2.82 - 3.20), in cm total length, based on LWR estimates for this (Sub)family-body shape (Ref.
93245).
Trophic level (Ref.
69278): 2.6 ±0.35 se; based on food items.
Resilience (Ref.
120179): High, minimum population doubling time less than 15 months (tm<=1: multiple spawning per year).
Fishing Vulnerability (Ref.
59153): Low vulnerability (18 of 100).
Nutrients (Ref.
124155): Calcium = 32.9 [12.2, 191.3] mg/100g; Iron = 1.36 [0.64, 2.82] mg/100g; Protein = 17.4 [15.7, 19.1] %; Omega3 = 0.186 [0.086, 0.409] g/100g; Selenium = 64.5 [27.3, 139.1] μg/100g; VitaminA = 8.03 [1.52, 36.61] μg/100g; Zinc = 2.2 [1.2, 4.8] mg/100g (wet weight); based on
nutrient studies.
