Oreochromis aureus

(Steindachner, 1864)

Blue Tilapia

G5Secure Found in 1 roadless area NatureServe Explorer →
G5SecureGlobal Rank
Identity
Unique IDELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.103127
Element CodeAFCQJ04010
Record TypeSPECIES
ClassificationSpecies
Classification StatusStandard
Name CategoryVertebrate Animal
Endemicoccurs (regularly, as a native taxon) in multiple nations
KingdomAnimalia
PhylumCraniata
ClassActinopterygii
OrderCichliformes
FamilyCichlidae
GenusOreochromis
Synonyms
Tilapia aurea(Steindachner, 1864)
Concept Reference
Robins, C.R., R.M. Bailey, C.E. Bond, J.R. Brooker, E.A. Lachner, R.N. Lea, and W.B. Scott. 1991. Common and scientific names of fishes from the United States and Canada. American Fisheries Society, Special Publication 20. 183 pp.
Taxonomic Comments
Has been confused with Tilapia nilotica in much of the literature (Lee et al. 1980). Formerly known as Tilapia aurea.
Conservation Status
Review Date2004-01-05
Change Date1996-09-25
Edition Date2004-01-05
Range Extent Comments
Native to tropical and subtropical Africa and Middle East (Fuller et al. 1999). Now more widely distributed across Africa. Established in parts of Arizona, California, Florida, Nevada, North Carolina, and Texas; possibly established in Colorado, Idaho, Oklahoma, and Pennsylvania; reported from Alabama, Georgia, and Kansas (Fuller et al. 1999).
Ecology & Habitat

Habitat

Warm ponds and impoundments, including power plant cooling reservoirs; tidal creeks. Able to live and reproduce in fresh and brackish water. Lower temperature tolerance is about 13 C, but can tolerate 5 C for brief periods in freshwater. Annually stocked in ponds and lakes in Alabama.

Reproduction

Maternal mouthbrooder. Requires water temperature of 20 C for spawning.
Other Nations (1)
United StatesNNA
ProvinceRankNative
North CarolinaSNANo
IdahoSNANo
New MexicoSNANo
GeorgiaSNANo
TexasSNANo
AlabamaSNANo
ArkansasSNANo
ArizonaSNANo
OklahomaSNANo
FloridaSNANo
CaliforniaSNANo
South CarolinaSNANo
Roadless Areas (1)
Florida (1)
AreaForestAcres
Alexander Springs CreekOcala National Forest2,954
References (11)
  1. Courtenay, W. R., Jr., and J. R. Stauffer, Jr., eds. 1984. Distribution, biology, and management of exotic fishes. Johns Hopkins University Press, Baltimore. xiv + 430 pp.
  2. Fuller, P. L., L. G. Nico, and J. D. Williams. 1999. Nonindigenous fishes introduced into inland waters of the United States. American Fisheries Society, Special Publication 27. x + 613 pp.
  3. Hales, L. S., Jr. 1991. Occurrence of an introduced African cichlid, the blue tilapia, TILAPIA AUREA, in a tidal creek of the Skidaway River, Georgia. Brimleyana 17:27-35.
  4. Lee, D. S., C. R. Gilbert, C. H. Hocutt, R. E. Jenkins, D. E. McAllister, and J. R. Stauffer, Jr. 1980. Atlas of North American freshwater fishes. North Carolina State Museum of Natural History, Raleigh, North Carolina. i-x + 854 pp.
  5. Moyle, P. B. 2002. Inland fishes of California. Revised and expanded. University of California Press, Berkeley. xv + 502 pp.
  6. Nelson, J. S., E. J. Crossman, H. Espinosa-Perez, L. T. Findley, C. R. Gilbert, R. N. Lea, and J. D. Williams. 2004. Common and scientific names of fishes from the United States, Canada, and Mexico. American Fisheries Society, Special Publication 29, Bethesda, Maryland. 386 pp.
  7. Page, L. M., and B. M. Burr. 1991. A field guide to freshwater fishes: North America north of Mexico. Houghton Mifflin Company, Boston, Massachusetts. 432 pp.
  8. Page, L. M., and B. M. Burr. 2011. Peterson field guide to freshwater fishes of North America north of Mexico. Second edition. Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, Boston. xix + 663 pp.
  9. Page, L. M., H. Espinosa-Pérez, L. T. Findley, C. R. Gilbert, R. N. Lea, N. E. Mandrak, R. L. Mayden, and J. S. Nelson. 2013. Common and scientific names of fishes from the United States, Canada, and Mexico. Seventh edition. American Fisheries Society, Special Publication 34, Bethesda, Maryland.
  10. Page, L. M., K. E. Bemis, T. E. Dowling, H.S. Espinosa-Pérez, L.T. Findley, C. R. Gilbert, K. E. Hartel, R. N. Lea, N. E. Mandrak, M. A. Neigbors, J. J. Schmitter-Soto, and H. J. Walker, Jr. 2023. Common and scientific names of fishes from the United States, Canada, and Mexico. Eighth edition. American Fisheries Society (AFS), Special Publication 37, Bethesda, Maryland, 439 pp.
  11. Robins, C.R., R.M. Bailey, C.E. Bond, J.R. Brooker, E.A. Lachner, R.N. Lea, and W.B. Scott. 1991. Common and scientific names of fishes from the United States and Canada. American Fisheries Society, Special Publication 20. 183 pp.