Species profile
Nile Tilapia
Oreochromis niloticus
At a glance
Nile Tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) is an IUCN Least Concern bony-fish species regulated in 4 of 66 jurisdictions tracked by CatchRules across the U.S. and Canada.
Confirmed by 773 research-grade iNaturalist observations, with Florida, Texas, and Arizona the top jurisdictions by observation count.
Notable details
- Females mouthbrood fertilized eggs, cradling them inside their mouths until the fry hatch.
- Can tolerate brackish water with salinity up to about 20 parts per thousand.
- Grows up to 60 cm long and can weigh more than 4 kg.
- One of the most farmed fish on Earth, with global aquaculture production exceeding 6 million metric tons annually.
Where Nile Tilapia are seen
Jurisdictions with rules for Nile Tilapia
Background
The Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) is a species of tilapia, a cichlid fish native to Africa from Egypt south to east and central Africa, and as far west as Gambia. It is also native to Israel, and numerous introduced populations exist outside its natural range (e.g., Brazil). It is also commercially known as mango fish, nilotica, or boulti. The first name leads to easy confusion with…
Background excerpt adapted from Wikipedia's Nile Tilapia article (CC BY-SA). Visit Wikipedia for the full entry.
Other bony fish on CatchRules
Photo credit: iNaturalist / Wikipedia. Identification reference only — verify regulations with the issuing wildlife agency before retaining a catch.