Philippines country information

Common names: Nile tilapia, Pla pla, Tilapia
Occurrence: introduced
Salinity: freshwater
Abundance: common (usually seen) | Ref:
Importance: highly commercial | Ref:
Aquaculture: commercial | Ref: FAO Fishery Information, Data and Statistics Service, 1993
Regulations: | Ref:
Uses: live export: yes;
Comments: Introduced in 1970. Reintroduced in 1972 from Thailand (Ref. 6096) and in 1973 from Israel (Ref. 1739). Widely cultured throughout the country especially in Laguna de Bay (Ref. 80824) area in Manila and in Central Luzon. Recorded from Candaba Swamp and Pampanga River (Ref. 109918). May have played a part in the extinction of cyprinids in Lake Lanao, Mindanao (Ref. 10888). Introduced to Lake Mainit (Ref. 4867, 50320, 13446, 81829). Found in Kalinawan River (Ref. 81829). Introduced to Taal Lake, stocked from fingerlings, and had escaped from the cages (Ref. 12165). No adverse impact on indigenous species in Taal lake has been reported (Ref. 27799,81207,13446). Specimens were collected in 1993 from Ambacan River at Makinhas and Butigan, Leyte (Ref. 7223). Reported from San Miguel Bay (Ref. 45161), Panguil Bay (Ref. 47691), Lake Lanao (Ref. 13446, 95183) and Lake Naujan (Ref. 13446, 81887). Abundant in Lake Manguao, Taytay, Palawan in a 2003 study; both an omnivore and planktivore (Ref. 50862). Cultured in reservoirs (Ambuklao, Angat, Binga, Caliraya, and Lumot (Ref. 13464). Collected from CLSU fish pond, Nueva Ecija as specimen for living fish museum.(Ref. 81820). Also recorded from Pampanga River, Paitan Lake, Pantabangan Dam, Tabuating River and Talavera River (Nueva Ecija) (Ref. 109918). Museum specimens collected in 1984 from various localities, LRS-84131(Ref. 13460). Also Ref. 1739, 9987, 58652.
National Checklist:
Country Information: httpss://www.cia.gov/library/publications/resources/the-world-factbook/geos/rp.html
National Fisheries Authority:
Occurrences: Occurrences Point map
Main Ref: Juliano, R.O., R.D. Guerrero III and I. Ronquillo, 1989
National Database:

Classification / Names

Actinopterygii (ray-finned fishes) > Perciformes (Perch-likes) > Cichlidae (Cichlids) > Pseudocrenilabrinae
Common names | Synonyms | Catalog of Fishes (gen., sp.) | ITIS | CoL

Common names from other countries

Тилапия нильская, Tilapia du Nil, Tilapia del Nilo, ... more

Main reference

Trewavas, E. 1983. (Ref. 2)
References | Biblio | Coordinator : Kullander, Sven O. | Collaborators

Size / Weight / Age

Max length : 60.0 cm SL male/unsexed; (Ref. 4967); max. published weight: 4.3 kg (Ref. 40637); max. reported age: 9 years (Ref. 164)

Length at first maturity
L_m 18.6, range 6 - 28 cm

Environment

Freshwater; brackish; benthopelagic; potamodromous (Ref. 51243); depth range 0 - 20 m (Ref. 32849), usually ? - 20 m (Ref. 34290)

Climate / Range

Tropical; 14°C - 33°C (Ref. 3), preferred ?; 32°N - 5°S, 17°W - 38°E

Distribution

Africa: naturally occurring in coastal rivers of Israel (Ref. 5166), Nile basin (including lake Albert, Edward and Tana), Jebel Marra, Lake Kivu, Lake Tanganyika, Awash River, various Ethiopian lakes, Omo River system, Lake Turkana, Suguta River and Lake Baringo (Ref. 2). In West Africa natural distribution covers the basins of the Senegal, Gambia, Volta, Niger, Benue and Chad, with introduced specimens reported from various coastal basins (Ref. 53405). Widely introduced for aquaculture, with many existing strains. Several countries report adverse ecological impact after introduction. The following subspecies were previously recognized: Oreochromis niloticus baringoensis, Oreochromis niloticus cancellatus, Oreochromis niloticus eduardianus, Oreochromis niloticus filoa, Oreochromis niloticus niloticus, Oreochromis niloticus sugutae, Oreohromis niloticus tana and Oreohromis niloticus vulcani.
Countries | FAO areas | Ecosystems | Occurrences | Introductions

Short description

Dorsal spines (total): 15 - 18; Dorsal soft rays (total): 11-13; Anal spines: 3; Anal soft rays: 9 - 11; Vertebrae: 30 - 32. Diagnosis: jaws of mature male not greatly enlarged (length of lower jaw 29-37 % of head length); genital papilla of breeding male not tassellated (Ref. 2). Most distinguishing characteristic is the presence of regular vertical stripes throughout depth of caudal fin (Ref. 4967, 53405).

Occur in a wide variety of freshwater habitats like rivers, lakes, sewage canals and irrigation channels (Ref. 28714). Mainly diurnal. Feed mainly on phytoplankton or benthic algae. Oviparous (Ref. 205). Mouthbrooding by females (Ref. 2). Extended temperature range 8-42 °C, natural temperature range 13.5 - 33 °C (Ref. 3). Maximum depth from Ref. 34290. Marketed fresh and frozen (Ref. 9987).