Oreochromis leucostictus

Taxonomy

Assessment Information

Geographic Range

Population

Habitat and Ecology

Threats

Conservation Actions

Taxonomy [top]

Kingdom	Phylum	Class	Order	Family
ANIMALIA	CHORDATA	ACTINOPTERYGII	PERCIFORMES	CICHLIDAE

Scientific Name:	Oreochromis leucostictus
Species Authority	(Trewavas, 1933)

Assessment Information [top]

Red List Category & Criteria:	Least Concern ver 3.1
Year Assessed:	2006
Assessor/s	Ntakimazi, G., Twongo, T.K. & Hanssens, M.
Evaluator/s:	Snoeks, J. (Freshwater Fish Red List Authority) & Darwall, W. (Freshwater Biodiversity Assessment Programme)
Justification: A widespread species with no threats identified likely have a significant impact on the native population.

Geographic Range [top]

Range Description:	Native to: Lakes Albert, Edward and George. Introduced to: Lakes Kyoga, Victoria, Naivasha, and the Lower Ruzizi Basin and upper/middle parts of the Kagera river system (Welcomme 1967, 1988).
Countries:	Native: Congo, The Democratic Republic of the; Uganda Introduced: Burundi; Kenya; Tanzania, United Republic of

Population [top]

Population:	No information available.
Population Trend:	Unknown

Habitat and Ecology [top]

Habitat and Ecology:	This is essentially a species of lagoons, especially closed or nearly closed lagoons. It is tolerant to the fluctuating physical conditions in these shallow lagoons and tolerates low oxygen conditions and high temperatures up to 38°C (Trewavas 1983). It prefers shallow channels and lagoons on a vegetated lake-shore (Eccles 1992). Its preferred depth range is 0-10 m, mainly in lagoons and near the papyrus fringe, in shallow muddy bays and inlets of lakes (Witte and de Winter 1995). It feeds mainly on phytoplankton, filimentous algae and has sometimes been reported to feed from bottom deposits (Trewavas 1983; Witte and de Winter 1995). It is a maternal mouth brooder with no evidence of a restricted breeding season or a peak in the reproductive period. However, gonadal development seems to be favoured by periods of high temperatures and sunshine, actual spawning probably being triggered by the onset of rains following such periods (Hyder 1970). Max. size: 232 mm SL (Trewavas 1983).
Systems:	Freshwater

Habitat and Ecology:

This is essentially a species of lagoons, especially closed or nearly closed lagoons. It is tolerant to the fluctuating physical conditions in these shallow lagoons and tolerates low oxygen conditions and high temperatures up to 38°C (Trewavas 1983). It prefers shallow channels and lagoons on a vegetated lake-shore (Eccles 1992). Its preferred depth range is 0-10 m, mainly in lagoons and near the papyrus fringe, in shallow muddy bays and inlets of lakes (Witte and de Winter 1995). It feeds mainly on phytoplankton, filimentous algae and has sometimes been reported to feed from bottom deposits (Trewavas 1983; Witte and de Winter 1995). It is a maternal mouth brooder with no evidence of a restricted breeding season or a peak in the reproductive period. However, gonadal development seems to be favoured by periods of high temperatures and sunshine, actual spawning probably being triggered by the onset of rains following such periods (Hyder 1970). Max. size: 232 mm SL (Trewavas 1983).

Systems:

Freshwater

Threats [top]

Major Threat(s):	No serious threats identified.

Major Threat(s):

No serious threats identified.

Conservation Actions [top]

Conservation Actions:	No specific information.

Conservation Actions:

No specific information.

Citation:	IUCN 2008. 2008 IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. <www.iucnredlist.org>. Downloaded on 15 October 2008.
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