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 |
|---|