Sarotherodon melanotheron
Blackchin Tilapia
Collection Details
Event Specimens
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Taxonomic Hierarchy
Actinopterygii (Ray-finned Fishes)
Perciformes (Perciformes, Also Called the Acanthopteri)
Cichlidae (Cichlids)
Sarotherodon
Sarotherodon melanotheron (Blackchin Tilapia)
Description
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Characters
Body shape: short and / or deep. Diagnosis: length of caudal peduncle 0.6-0.9 times in its depth (Ref. 53405). Melanic areas in adult usually present on lower parts of head, on cleithrum and on apices of caudal and soft dorsal fins; occasional irregular and asymmetrical spots on flanks probably representing vertical bars; median spot or transverse bar on nape rather constant (Ref. 2).
Description: jaw teeth in 3-6 rows, outer row in upper jaw with 46-100 bicuspid teeth; outer jaw teeth bicuspid; inner jaw teeth tricuspid; lower pharyngeal bone long and narrow, its toothed part with fine, bicuspid teeth; micro-gillrakers present; scales cycloid (Ref. 53405).
Coloration: in life: ground colour pale opalescent blue, each scale with darker or golden spot at base; 2-3 scale rows on back iridescent yellow; gill cover transparent in mature females, gills shining through and giving a purple appearance; chin, opercle and part of subopercle metallic golden in mature males; deep black spots on lower jaw, branchiostegal membrane, underside of head, above eye, on neck, cleithrum (from upper end to below pectoral-fin bases), and often 1-2 on sides; these often asymmetric spots darker and larger in mature males, but absent in juveniles; dorsal and anal fins with more or less distinct spots against iridescent greenish background; soft parts of fins often black-edged in mature individuals; caudal fin translucent, colourless or mauve, with deep-black angles; pectoral fins colourless, pelvics dark with white margin; "tilapian" spot present in juveniles, but disappears at sizes of 50mm SL (Ref. 53405). Striking features: none.
Distribution
Africa: Lagoons and estuaries from Mauritania to Cameroon. Introduced to several countries in Asia, USA and Europe (Ref. 21). At least one country reports adverse ecological impact after introduction. Previously, three subspecies were recognized: Sarotherodon melanotheron heudelotii, Sarotherodon melanotheron leonensis and Sarotherodon melanotheron melanotheron.
Habitat Associations
Freshwater, brackish, marine. demersal. depth range 0-3 m. Found in: streams, estuaries, mangroves.
Biology
This species can tolerate high salinity (Ref. 5723). It occurs abundantly in mangrove areas and ventures in to both fresh, like lower reaches of streams (Ref. 5723) and salt waters in native and non-native ranges (Ref. 46816, 53405). In West Africa, this species is confined to brackish lagoons and estuaries, and is abundant in the mangrove zone (Ref. 2). Forms schools; is mainly nocturnal with intermittent daytime feeding. Feeds on aufwuchs and detritus (Ref. 2), as well as on bivalves and zooplankton (Ref. 28587). Feeding behaviour: picking up and swallowing "bites" (no gill rakers) (Ref. 55661).
Max length: 28.0 cm SL; common length: 17.5 cm TL.
Reproductive mode: dioecism; fertilization: external; bearers (external brooders); parental care: paternal. Spawns in shallow water close inshore. Initiative in courtship, pit digging and mating activities are taken by the female. Eventually a male is stimulated to react in a mainly passive manner and a pair-bond is established; sexual dimorphism minimal; no T-stand by the partners during fertilization. Exhibits mouth-brooding habit (Ref. 6298). Males exclusively incubate the eggs (Ref. 2, 6309).
IUCN Red List Status: Least Concern (LC), assessed 2019-04-22. Resilience: Medium (K=0.16).
Commercial or Environmental Importance
Fisheries: commercial; aquaculture: commercial; aquarium: commercial.
References
Trewavas, E. (1983) Tilapiine fishes of the genera Sarotherodon, Oreochromis and Danakilia. British Mus. Nat. Hist., London, UK. 583 p.
Trewavas, E. and G.G. Teugels (1991) Sarotherodon. p. 425-437. In J. Daget, J.-P. Gosse, G.G. Teugels and D.F.E. Thys van den Audenaerde (eds.) Check-list of the freshwater fishes of Africa (CLOFFA). ISNB, Brussels; MRAC, Tervuren; and ORSTOM, Paris. Vol. 4.
Page, L.M. and B.M. Burr (1991) A field guide to freshwater fishes of North America north of Mexico. Houghton Mifflin Company, Boston. 432 p.
Olaosebikan, B.D. and A. Raji (1998) Field guide to Nigerian freshwater fishes. Federal College of Freshwater Fisheries Technology, New Bussa, Nigeria. 106 p.
Ugwumba, A.A.A. and A. Adebishi (1992) The food and feeding ecology of Sarotherodon melanotheron (Ruppell) in a small freshwater reservoir in Ibadan, Nigeria. Arch. Hydrobiol. 124(3):367-382.
Teugels, G.G. and D.F.E. Thys van den Audenaerde (2003) Cichlidae. p. 521-600. In D. Paugy, C. Lévêque and G.G Teugels (eds.) The fresh and brackish water fishes of West Africa Volume 2. Coll. faune et flore tropicales 40. Institut de recherche de développement, Paris, France, Muséum national d'histoire naturelle, Paris, France and Musée royal de l'Afrique Central, Tervuren, Belgium, 815p.
Barlow, G.W. (1991) Mating systems among cichlid fishes. p. 173-190. In M.H.A. Keenleyside (ed.) Cichlid fishes : behaviour, ecology and evolution. Chapman and Hall, London. 378 p.
Comments On Sarotherodon melanotheron