- Oreochromis macrochir
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Oreochromis macrochir Scientific classification Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Chordata Class: Actinopterygii Order: Perciformes Family: Cichlidae Subfamily: Pseudocrenilabrinae Tribe: Tilapiini Genus: Oreochromis Species: O. macrochir Binomial name Oreochromis macrochir
(Boulenger, 1912)Oreochromis macrochir (Longfin tilapia) is a species of fish in the Cichlidae family.
The species is native to the Zambezi Basin, and is also found in 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.[1] In Lake Mweru it is economically the most important fish.[2] 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.[3]
The fish reaches a maximum length of 43 centimetres (17 in). It lives in fresh water at a depth of from 5 metres (16 ft) to 14 metres (46 ft) in tropical climates with average temperatures between 18 °C (64 °F) and 35 °C (95 °F).[4]
References
- ^ R. L. Welcomme, ed (1988). "Oreochromis macrochir". International introductions of inland aquatic species. Food & Agriculture Org.. p. 190. ISBN 9251026645. http://books.google.ca/books?id=MY7s5exj5ewC&pg=PA190.
- ^ R. H. Hughes, J. S. Hughes (1992). A directory of African wetlands. IUCN. p. 538-541. ISBN 2880329493. http://books.google.ca/books?id=VLjafeXa3gMC&pg=PA538.
- ^ C. Lévêque (1997). Biodiversity dynamics and conservation: the freshwater fish of tropical Africa. Cambridge University Press. p. 322. ISBN 0521570336. http://books.google.ca/books?id=C_ABrmnsKY4C&pg=PA322.
- ^ "Oreochromis macrochir (Boulenger, 1912)". FishBase. http://fishbase.org/summary/SpeciesSummary.php?id=1396. Retrieved 2011-10-31.
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