Otjikoto tilapia | |
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Scientific classification
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Domain: | Eukaryota |
Kingdom: | Animalia |
Phylum: | Chordata |
Class: | Actinopterygii |
Order: | Cichliformes |
Family: | Cichlidae |
Genus: | Tilapia |
Species: | T. guinasana
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Binomial name | |
Tilapia guinasana
Trewavas, 1936
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The Otjikoto tilapia (Tilapia guinasana) is a critically endangered species of cichlid fish endemic to Namibia where it was originally only found in Lake Guinas. [1] [2] This very small sinkhole lake contains quite clear water that generally ranges between 18–25 °C (64–77 °F) depending on season, [3] and the Otjikoto tilapia has been seen down to depths of 67 m (220 ft). [1] Despite deriving its common name from the nearby Lake Otjikoto, it in not native to that lake, rather being an introduced species. [1] It is rare in the aquarium trade [4] and also kept in garden ponds in southern Africa. [3]
It is shoaling, but when breeding the pairs separate out, moving to the lake's vertical cliff edges where narrow ledges are used for breeding. [3] The eggs and young are aggressively guarded by the parents. [3] The Otjikoto tilapia mostly feeds on algae, including diatoms, [2] but it is an opportunistic omnivore and will also take invertebrates. [3]
The Otjikoto tilapia can reach a total length of up to 14 cm (5.5 in). [2] When breeding, the underparts become black. [3] Otherwise it is very variable in coloration, occurring in five main morphs, which are not sex-limited: olive, olive striped, dark blue, blue striped and light blue. The last is itself quite variable and may show some white, yellow or blotches in black. [5] There are minor genetic differences between the morphs and assortative mating occurs, especially in the olive and dark blue (possibly showing the very early stages of separation into distinct species). [5] Some pale individuals have a highly mottled appearance, giving the species the nicknames African koi and Nguni fish. [3] The distinct polymorphism is not seen in the introduced population in Lake Otjikoto. [4] It is very closely related to the banded tilapia (T. sparrmanii) and the two species can interbreed. [1]
Otjikoto tilapia | |
---|---|
![]() | |
Scientific classification
![]() | |
Domain: | Eukaryota |
Kingdom: | Animalia |
Phylum: | Chordata |
Class: | Actinopterygii |
Order: | Cichliformes |
Family: | Cichlidae |
Genus: | Tilapia |
Species: | T. guinasana
|
Binomial name | |
Tilapia guinasana
Trewavas, 1936
|
The Otjikoto tilapia (Tilapia guinasana) is a critically endangered species of cichlid fish endemic to Namibia where it was originally only found in Lake Guinas. [1] [2] This very small sinkhole lake contains quite clear water that generally ranges between 18–25 °C (64–77 °F) depending on season, [3] and the Otjikoto tilapia has been seen down to depths of 67 m (220 ft). [1] Despite deriving its common name from the nearby Lake Otjikoto, it in not native to that lake, rather being an introduced species. [1] It is rare in the aquarium trade [4] and also kept in garden ponds in southern Africa. [3]
It is shoaling, but when breeding the pairs separate out, moving to the lake's vertical cliff edges where narrow ledges are used for breeding. [3] The eggs and young are aggressively guarded by the parents. [3] The Otjikoto tilapia mostly feeds on algae, including diatoms, [2] but it is an opportunistic omnivore and will also take invertebrates. [3]
The Otjikoto tilapia can reach a total length of up to 14 cm (5.5 in). [2] When breeding, the underparts become black. [3] Otherwise it is very variable in coloration, occurring in five main morphs, which are not sex-limited: olive, olive striped, dark blue, blue striped and light blue. The last is itself quite variable and may show some white, yellow or blotches in black. [5] There are minor genetic differences between the morphs and assortative mating occurs, especially in the olive and dark blue (possibly showing the very early stages of separation into distinct species). [5] Some pale individuals have a highly mottled appearance, giving the species the nicknames African koi and Nguni fish. [3] The distinct polymorphism is not seen in the introduced population in Lake Otjikoto. [4] It is very closely related to the banded tilapia (T. sparrmanii) and the two species can interbreed. [1]