Description

Dorsal spines (total): 16 - 18; Dorsal soft rays (total): 9 - 11; Anal spines: 3 - 4; Anal soft rays: 9 - 11; Vertebrae: 29 - 30. Diagnosis: A small bodied tilapia (Ref. 118638). About 50% of individuals have IV anal spines, the modal numbers of vertebrae (29), dorsal rays (27) and gill-rakers (15) are low, and the jaws of breeding males are enlarged (Ref. 2). Females, subadult males and juveniles with a silver/grey flank colour, light ventral colour, and characteristic melanin pattern of 7-9 broken vertical stripes on the dorsal side giving a spotted appearance; males darker, with a series of white spots/bars on the flanks; ripe males have red margins on dorsal and caudal, with a reddish tinge to the pectoral fins; males from southern populations showed a bluish sheen and less contrasting male colouration (Ref. 118638). In breeding males the throat and chest are black and broad dark vertical bars are conspicuous on the lower half of the body (Ref. 2, 4967, 54096).

Common Names

No common names available.

Taxonomic Hierarchy

Kingdom: Animalia

Phylum: Chordata

Class: Teleostei

Order: Cichliformes

Family: Cichlidae

Genus: Oreochromis

Species: Oreochromis korogwe (Lowe, 1955)

Climate Zone

Location

Biology

A maternal mouthbrooder (Ref. 118638). There is evidence of hybridization with native Oreochromis jipe in northern Tanzania, and non-native O. niloticus in southern Tanzania (Ref. 118638). Of only minor importance to artisanal fisheries (Ref. 118638). Maximum standard length of 18 cm (Ref. 4967) is not confirmed (Ref. 2, G.F. Turner pers. comm.); maximum total length reported as 20.8 cm (Ref. 2, 118638).

Habitat

brackish