Oreochromis mossambicus

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 mossambicus

Species Authority

(Peters, 1852)

Common Name/s:

English

–

Mozambique Tilapia

Synonym/s:

Chromis dumerilii

Chromis natalensis

Chromis vorax

Tilapia arnoldi

Assessment Information [top]

Red List Category & Criteria:	Near Threatened ver 3.1
Year Assessed:	2007
Assessor/s	Cambray, J. & Swartz, E.
Evaluator/s:	Tweddle, D. (Freshwater Fish Red List Authority) & Darwall, W. (Freshwater Biodiversity Assessment Unit)
Justification: Threatened by hybridization with the rapidly spreading Oreochromis niloticus. Oreochromis niloticus is being spread by anglers and for aquaculture. Hybridization is already occurring throughout the northern part of the species' range, with most of the evidence coming from the Limpopo River system. In terms of locations the threat of Oreochromis niloticus is widespread, but probably more than 50% of the locations are not yet affected. Given the rapid spread of O. niloticus it is anticipated that this species will qualify as threatened under Criterion A due to rapid population decline through hybridization. The species is therefore assessed as Near Threatened.

Geographic Range [top]

Range Description:	Lower Zambezi, Lower Shire and coastal plains from Zambezi delta to Algoa Bay. Occurs southwards to the Bushmans River in the eastern Cape and in the Transvaal in the Limpopo system (Skelton 2001). Widely dispersed beyond this range to inland regions and to the south west and west coastal rivers including the lower Orange and rivers of Namibia. Introduced to tropical and warm temperate localities throughout the world.
Countries:	Native: Malawi; Mozambique; South Africa (Eastern Cape Province, KwaZulu-Natal); Swaziland; Zambia; Zimbabwe

Range Description:

Lower Zambezi, Lower Shire and coastal plains from Zambezi delta to Algoa Bay. Occurs southwards to the Bushmans River in the eastern Cape and in the Transvaal in the Limpopo system (Skelton 2001). Widely dispersed beyond this range to inland regions and to the south west and west coastal rivers including the lower Orange and rivers of Namibia. Introduced to tropical and warm temperate localities throughout the world.

Countries:

Native:

Malawi; Mozambique; South Africa (Eastern Cape Province, KwaZulu-Natal); Swaziland; Zambia; Zimbabwe

Population [top]

Population:	Common and widespread through south eastern Africa.
Population Trend:	Unknown

Habitat and Ecology [top]

Habitat and Ecology:	Occurs in all but fast-flowing waters; thrives in standing waters. Further south in its range it is most common in blind estuaries and coastal lakes where it tolerates brackish and marine environments. Feeds on algae, especially diatoms, and detritus, large individuals also take insects and other invertebrates. Breeds in summer, females raising multiple broods every 3 to 4 weeks during a season. Males construct a saucer-shaped nest on sandy bottoms: the female mouthbroods the eggs, larvae and small fry. Juveniles shoal in shallow water. Prone to stunting under adverse or crowded conditions (Skelton 2001).
Systems:	Freshwater

Habitat and Ecology:

Occurs in all but fast-flowing waters; thrives in standing waters. Further south in its range it is most common in blind estuaries and coastal lakes where it tolerates brackish and marine environments. Feeds on algae, especially diatoms, and detritus, large individuals also take insects and other invertebrates. Breeds in summer, females raising multiple broods every 3 to 4 weeks during a season. Males construct a saucer-shaped nest on sandy bottoms: the female mouthbroods the eggs, larvae and small fry. Juveniles shoal in shallow water. Prone to stunting under adverse or crowded conditions (Skelton 2001).

Systems:

Freshwater

Threats [top]

Major Threat(s):	The Nile tilapia, Oreochromis niloticus, is invading its natural range in the Zambezi and Limpopo systems. Hybridisation is occurring in the Limpopo system and pure O. mossambicus are likely to become extirpated in those systems through competition and hybridisation.

Major Threat(s):

The Nile tilapia, Oreochromis niloticus, is invading its natural range in the Zambezi and Limpopo systems. Hybridisation is occurring in the Limpopo system and pure O. mossambicus are likely to become extirpated in those systems through competition and hybridisation.

Conservation Actions [top]

Conservation Actions:	River systems not yet invaded by Nile tilapia must be protected from deliberate and accidental introductions of that species.

Conservation Actions:

River systems not yet invaded by Nile tilapia must be protected from deliberate and accidental introductions of that species.

Citation:	Cambray, J. & Swartz, E. 2007. Oreochromis mossambicus. In: IUCN 2008. 2008 IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. <www.iucnredlist.org>. Downloaded on 22 November 2008.
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