Oreochromis esculentus

Diagnosis: head somewhat pointed; snout with relatively steep forehead; eyes positioned low (Ref. 27292). No enlargement of the jaws in mature males (Ref. 2). Preorbital bone rather shallow, its depth not exceeding 21% head length (Ref. 2, 27292). Pharyngeal bone 33.0-35.5% head length; male genital papilla opening between a pair of often spongy lobes (papilla conical or with a slight distal notch) (Ref. 2). Length:depth ratio of caudal peduncle 0.9-1.15 (Ref. 2, 34290). Males without genital tassel (Ref. 363, 27292, 54836). Body not conspicuously spotted (Ref. 4903, 54836). Male breeding coloration a general reddish colour with black ventral parts and dorsal fin; lappets of dorsal fin not bright red or orange (Ref. 2). No vertical stripes on caudal fin (Ref. 2, 4967). Young and females with Tilapia-mark in soft dorsal fin (Ref. 27292). Description: body very deep; dorsal profile rising steeply and evenly from the tip of the snout to the high back (Ref. 54840). Teeth in 2-3 series in juveniles, 3-5 in adults; lower pharyngeal bone in adult longer than wide, teeth fine and crowded (Ref. 2). Scales on cheek usually in 2-3 rows (Ref. 2, 4967, 54840, 55055, 56136). Scales extending on to the preorbital bone (Ref. 54840). 8-9 scales over top of caudal peducle above lateral line (Ref. 2, 55055, 56136). Upper part of lateral line with 20-23 scales, lower part with 12-17 scales (Ref. 27292). 5.5-7 scales along lateral series in the length of the caudal peduncle (Ref. 56137). Micro-branchiospines present on outer sides of 2nd, 3rd and 4th arches (Ref. 2, 4967). Otoliths fairly smooth (Ref. 56279). Dorsal and anal fins posteriorly pointed, but not filamentous; pectoral fin extending beyond origin of anal fin (Ref. 54979). Caudal peduncle deeper than long (Ref. 54840). Caudal often rounded by wear in adult; caudal not densely scaled, but in large specimens small scales may extend on the rays nearly to the margin and are rather dense on the upper and lower rays (Ref. 2).

• Tilapia esculenta Graham, 1928
• Sarotherodon esculentus (Graham, 1928)