Tilapia is a genus of cichlid fishes endemic to freshwater habitats in Southern Africa. In the past this was a very large genus including all species with the common name tilapia, but today the vast majority are placed in other genera.[1]
Tilapia | |
---|---|
![]() | |
Banded tilapia, Tilapia sparrmanii | |
Scientific classification ![]() | |
Kingdom: | Animalia |
Phylum: | Chordata |
Class: | Actinopterygii |
Order: | Cichliformes |
Family: | Cichlidae |
Tribe: | Tilapiini |
Genus: | Tilapia A. Smith, 1840 |
Type species | |
Tilapia sparrmanii A. Smith, 1840 | |
Species | |
4, see text | |
Synonyms | |
Chromis Günther, 1862 (non Cuvier, 1814: preoccupied) |
In the past, Oreochromis and Sarotherodon were retained in the genus Tilapia, but these are treated as separate genera by all recent authorities.[2] Even with this more restricted Tilapia, there were indications that the taxonomic treatment was problematic, and in 2013 a review of the group resulted in the removal of most "Tilapia" species to the genera Coelotilapia, Coptodon, Heterotilapia and Pelmatolapia.[1] With these as separate genera, only four species remain in Tilapia:[1]
Temporarily retained here, but belonging elsewhere:[1]
Taxon identifiers |
---|