Oreochromis mweruensis

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Taxonomy [top]

Kingdom	Phylum	Class	Order	Family
ANIMALIA	CHORDATA	ACTINOPTERYGII	PERCIFORMES	CICHLIDAE

Scientific Name:	Oreochromis mweruensis
Species Authority:	Trewavas, 1983
Common Name/s: English – Mweru tilapia
Synonym/s:	Oreochromis macrochir mweruensis Trewavas, 1983 Tilapia natalensis (non Weber, 1897) Tilapia nilotica (non Linnaeus, 1758)
Taxonomic Notes:	Part of the distribution area of Oreochromis macrochir caused by introduction could be Oreochromis mweruensis due to wrong identifications. Previously, O. macrochir and O. mweruensis were considered to be distinct subspecies of O. macrochir, but are now considered to be distinct at the specific level (De Vos et al. 2001).

Assessment Information [top]

Red List Category & Criteria:	Least Concern     ver 3.1
Year Published:	2010
Assessor/s:	Moelants, T.
Reviewer/s:	Brummett, R., Mbe Tawe, A.N., Dening Touokong, C., Reid, G.M., Snoeks, J. Staissny, M., Moelants, T., Mamonekene, V., Ndodet, B., Ifuta, S.N.B., Chilala, A., Monsembula, R., Ibala Zamba, A., Opoye Itoua, O., Pouomogne, V., Darwall, W. & Smith, K.
Justification: This species has a wide distribution, with no known major widespread threats. It is therefore listed as Least Concern. Part of the distribution area of Oreochromis macrochir caused by introduction could be Oreochromis mweruensis due to wrong identifications. Its distribution could thus be larger than currently known.
History:	2006 – Least Concern (IUCN 2006)

Geographic Range [top]

Range Description:	Oreochromis mweruensis is known from Lake Mweru and the swamps and saline lakes in Mweru-wa-Ntipa, and from the Lower Luapula River system and possibly from the Lufira River. It has also been recorded from Lake Kivu. Part of the distribution area of Oreochromis macrochir caused by introduction could be Oreochromis mweruensis due to wrong identifications. Its distribution could thus be larger than currently known.
Countries:	Native: Congo, The Democratic Republic of the; Zambia
Range Map:	Click here to open the map viewer and explore range.

Population [top]

Population:	No information available.
Population Trend:	Unknown

Habitat and Ecology [top]

Habitat and Ecology:

Oreochromis mweruensis is a benthopelagic, non-migratory species. Young of O. mweruensis feed on epiphytic filamentous algae in swampy areas. This species is found in quiet waters along river margins and backwaters, in floodplain habitat and impoundments. This species spawns along the banks of lakes/rivers at an average depth of 12 to 13 m. The mating territory is largely occupied by a low mound with 6-12 grooves or crests radiating from the small central concave area (star-shaped nest). Males build the star-shaped nests on a sandy substrates. In any fisheries where O. macrochir is reported, its might be a combination of the 2 species.

Systems:

Freshwater

Threats [top]

Major Threat(s):

Oreochromis mweruensis is used for aquaculture in an experimental stage in central Africa. It is also threatened by the regression of wetland habitats around rivers, lakes and floodplains.

Conservation Actions [top]

Conservation Actions:

None known. Population trends should be monitored, and habitat maintenance is required.

Bibliography [top]

Pan-Africa freshwater assessment references. Currently, full citations for references used in the Pan-Africa biodiversity assessments are unavailable on the Red List web site. These will be added to the site in 2011. We apologise for any inconvenience this causes. IUCN. 2010. IUCN Red List of Threatened Species (ver. 2010.3). Available at: http://www.iucnredlist.org. (Accessed: 2 September 2010).