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Tilapia

Tilapia (/tɪˈlɑːpiə/ tih-LAH-pee-ə) is the common name for nearly a hundred species of cichlid fish from the coelotilapine, coptodonine, heterotilapine, oreochromine, pelmatolapiine, and tilapiine tribes (formerly all were "Tilapiini"), with the economically most important species placed in the Coptodonini and Oreochromini.[2] Tilapia are mainly freshwater fish inhabiting shallow streams, ponds, rivers, and lakes, and less commonly found living in brackish water. Historically, they have been of major importance in artisanal fishing in Africa, and they are of increasing importance in aquaculture and aquaponics. Tilapia can become a problematic invasive species in new warm-water habitats such as Australia,[3] whether deliberately or accidentally introduced, but generally not in temperate climates due to their inability to survive in cold water.

This article is about the common name for many species of fish. For the genus, see Tilapia (genus).

Traditionally a popular and affordable food in the Philippines with a mild taste, tilapia has been the fourth-most consumed fish in the United States since 2002, favored for its low cost and easy preparation. It is commonly fried or boiled as part of a dish.[4]

People fishing for tilapia
Lake Naivasha, Kenya

People fishing for tilapia Lake Naivasha, Kenya

Giant kingfisher with tilapia
Lake Naivasha

Giant kingfisher with tilapia Lake Naivasha

African fish eagle with tilapia
Lake Naivasha

African fish eagle with tilapia Lake Naivasha

Parasites[edit]

As with most fish, tilapia harbor a variety of parasites. For the monogeneans, these especially include species of the megadiverse genus Cichlidogyrus, which are gill parasites. Species of Enterogyrus are parasites in the digestive system. Tilapia, as important aquaculture fishes, have been introduced widely all over the world, and often carried their monogenean parasites with them. In South China, a 2019 study has shown that nine species of monogeneans were carried by introduced tilapia.[69]

Logan, Cheryl A.; Alter, S. Elizabeth; Haupt, Alison J.; Tomalty, Katharine; (2008). "An impediment to consumer choice: Overfished species are sold as Pacific red snapper". Biological Conservation. 141 (6): 1591–1599. doi:10.1016/j.biocon.2008.04.007. ISSN 0006-3207.

Palumbi, Stephen R.

FAO Fishery Information, Data & Statistics Service (1993). "Aquaculture production (1985–1991)". FAO Fisheries Circular. 815. of the United Nations: 20–21.

Food and Agriculture Organization

Trewavas, Ethelwynn (1983). Tilapiine fish of the genera Sarotherodon, Oreochromis and Danakilia. London: British Museum (Natural History).  0-565-00878-1.

ISBN

McCrary, Jeffrey K; Castro, Mark; McKaye, Kenneth R. (2005). (PDF). Environmental Pollution. pp. 513–518. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2011-10-03.

"Mercury in Fish From Two Nicaraguan Lakes: A Recommendation for Increased Monitoring of Fish for International Commerce"