Species FAO code: TLM

Oreochromis mossambicus

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Commercial designations
Production methods and fishing gears
Species distribution and habitat
Species description
Combined Nomenclature

Commercial designations

Country	Commercial designations	Names accepted or permitted locally or regionally
Cyprus	el τιλάπια	–
Denmark	da Mozambique-cichlide	–
Estonia	et Mosambiigi vääristilaapia	–
Finland	fi mosambikintilapia sv mozambiquetilapia	–
France	fr tilapia du Mozambique	–
Greece	el Τιλάπια Μοζαμβίκης	–
Ireland	en Mozambique tilapia ga Tioláipia Mósaimbíc	–
Portugal	pt Tilapia	–
Spain	es Tilapia de Mozambique es Tilapia de Mozambique [Tilapia mossambicus synonym for Oreochromis mossambicus]	Galicia: Tilapia mozambicana Galicia: Tilapia mozambicana [Tilapia mossambicus synonym for Oreochromis mossambicus]
Sweden	sv Mozambiquetilapia	–

Main production methods

Caught
Farmed

Main fishing gears

Source: Froese, R. and D. Pauly. Editors. FishBase. Oreochromis mossambicus (Peters, 1852)

Habitat

Freshwater
Brackish water

FAO major fishing areas

Source: Froese, R. and D. Pauly. Editors. FishBase. Oreochromis mossambicus (Peters, 1852)

Distribution maps

Source: FAO - FAO aquatic species distribution map of Oreochromis mossambicus

Scientific name

Oreochromis mossambicus

Author

(Peters, 1852)

Rank

Species

FAO code

TLM

Morphological description

Diagnosis: snout long; forehead with relatively large scales, starting with 2 scales between the eyes followed by 9 scales up to the dorsal fin (Ref. 3058, 3060). Adult males develop a pointed, duckbill-like snout (Ref. 52307) due to enlarged jaws, often causing the upper profile to become concave (Ref. 2, 7248, 12524, 13337, 52307), but upper profile convex in smaller specimens (Ref. 1870, 6460). Pharyngeal teeth very fine, the dentigerous area with narrow lobes, the blade in adults longer than dentigerous area; 28-31 vertebrae; 3 anal spines; 14-20 lower gill-rakers; genital papilla of males simple or with a shallow distal notch; caudal fin not densely scaled; female and non-breeding male silvery with 2-5 mid-lateral blotches and some of a more dorsal series; breeding male black with white lower parts of head and red margins to dorsal and caudal fins (Ref. 2). Description: moderately deep-bodied (Ref. 7248, 52307), but very variable according to food availability (Ref. 5214). Head profile straight in juveniles and females (Ref. 7248). Mouth large (Ref. 1870, 2989, 53262, 52307, 54167). Lower jaw prominent; lips thick (Ref. 3058, 3060). Maxillary ending between nostril and eye in females and immature males (Ref. 2), in breeding males (Ref. 2) mouth reaching to below anterior border of eye (Ref. 1870, 2989, 53262, 54167, 54759) or a little beyond (Ref. 1870, 2989, 53262, 54167). Eye with yellow ring around pupil (Ref. 57960). Otoliths: sulcus with nearly straight crista inferior at the transition between ostium and cauda (thus no ventralward widening of the ostium is present) (Ref. 56279). 2-3 series of scales on cheek (Ref. 2, 552, 1870, 2989, 3058, 3060, 6460, 53262, 54167). Scales cycloid (Ref. 1870, 2989, 3058, 4904, 5728, 53262, 54167). Scales on belly small, breast scales even smaller (Ref. 3058). Large scales on opercle (Ref. 1870, 53262), in 3 rows (Ref. 54759). 17-23 scales in upper part of lateral line, 10-17 in lower part (Ref. 1870, 2989, 3058, 54167).

Taxonomic classification

ClassActinopterygii
- OrderPerciformes
  - FamilyCichlidae
    - GenusOreochromis
      - SpeciesOreochromis mossambicus

Synonyms

Chromis dumerilii Steindachner, 1864
Sarotherodon mossambicus natalensis (Weber, 1897)
Chromis vorax Pfeffer, 1893
Tilapia arnoldi Gilchrist & Thompson, 1917
Tilapia dumerilii (Steindachner, 1864)
Tilapia mossambica mossambica (Peters, 1852)
Chromis mossambicus Peters, 1852
Sarothredon mossambica (Peters, 1852)
Chromis niloticus var. mossambicus Peters, 1852
Tilapia mossambicus (Peters, 1852)
Tilapia vorax (Pfeffer, 1893)
Sarotherodon mossambicus (Peters, 1852)
Sarotherodon mossambica (Peters, 1852)
Oreochromis mossambicus bassamkhalafi Khalaf, 2009
Telapia mossambica (Peters, 1852)
Tilapia mosambica (Peters, 1852)
Chromis natalensis Weber, 1897
Cromis mossambicus Peters, 1852
Oreochromis mozambica (Peters, 1852)
Oreochromis mossambica (Peters, 1852)
Tilapia mozambique (Peters, 1852)
Orechromis mossambica (Peters, 1852)
Sarotherodon mossambicum (Peters, 1852)
Tilapia dumerili (Steindachner, 1864)
Tilapia natalensis (Weber, 1897)
Tilapia mossambica (Peters, 1852)

Source: Froese, R. and D. Pauly. Editors. FishBase. Oreochromis mossambicus (Peters, 1852)

An annually revised goods classification scheme used in EU for the purposes of customs duty and foreign trade statistics. The scheme is based on the Harmonized System nomenclature, further extended with Community subdivisions. Each subdivision is identified by an eight-digit numerical code. Read more: Combined Nomenclature

03 — CHAPTER 3 - FISH AND CRUSTACEANS, MOLLUSCS AND OTHER AQUATIC INVERTEBRATES
- 0301 — Live fish
  - Other live fish
    - 0301 99 — Other
      - Freshwater fish
        0301 99 18 — Other
- 0302 — Fish, fresh or chilled, excluding fish fillets and other fish meat of heading 0304
  - Tilapia (Oreochromis spp.), catfish (Pangasius spp., Silurus spp., Clarias spp., Ictalurus spp.), carp (Cyprinus carpio, Carassius carassius, Ctenopharyngodon idellus, Hypophthalmichthys spp., Cirrhinus spp., Mylopharyngodon piceus), eels (Anguilla spp.), Nile perch (Lates niloticus) and snakeheads (Channa spp.), excluding livers and roes
    - 0302 71 00 — Tilapia (Oreochromis spp.)
  - Other fish, excluding livers and roes
    - 0302 89 — Other
      - 0302 89 10 — Freshwater fish
- 0303 — Fish, frozen, excluding fish fillets and other fish meat of heading 0304
  - Tilapia (Oreochromis spp.), catfish (Pangasius spp., Silurus spp., Clarias spp., Ictalurus spp.), carp (Cyprinus carpio, Carassius carassius, Ctenopharyngodon idellus, Hypophthalmichthys spp., Cirrhinus spp., Mylopharyngodon piceus), eels (Anguilla spp.), Nile perch (Lates niloticus) and snakeheads (Channa spp.), excluding livers and roes
    - 0303 23 00 — Tilapia (Oreochromis spp.)
  - Other fish, excluding livers and roes
    - 0303 89 — Other
      - 0303 89 10 — Freshwater fish
- 0304 — Fish fillets and other fish meat (whether or not minced), fresh, chilled or frozen
  - Fresh or chilled fillets of tilapia (Oreochromis spp.), catfish (Pangasius spp., Silurus spp., Clarias spp., Ictalurus spp.), carp (Cyprinus carpio, Carassius carassius, Ctenopharyngodon idellus, Hypophthalmichthys spp., Cirrhinus spp., Mylopharyngodon piceus), eels (Anguilla spp.), Nile perch (Lates niloticus) and snakeheads (Channa spp.)
    - 0304 31 00 — Tilapia (Oreochromis spp.)
  - Fresh or chilled fillets of other fish
    - 0304 49 — Other
      - 0304 49 10 — Freshwater fish
  - Other, fresh or chilled
    - 0304 51 00 — Tilapia (Oreochromis spp.), catfish (Pangasius spp., Silurus spp., Clarias spp., Ictalurus spp.), carp (Cyprinus carpio, Carassius carassius, Ctenopharyngodon idellus, Hypophthalmichthys spp., Cirrhinus spp., Mylopharyngodon piceus), eels (Anguilla spp.), Nile perch (Lates niloticus) and snakeheads (Channa spp.)
    - 0304 59 — Other
      - 0304 59 10 — Freshwater fish
  - Frozen fillets of tilapia (Oreochromis spp.), catfish (Pangasius spp., Silurus spp., Clarias spp., Ictalurus spp.), carp (Cyprinus carpio, Carassius carassius, Ctenopharyngodon idellus, Hypophthalmichthys spp., Cirrhinus spp., Mylopharyngodon piceus), eels (Anguilla spp.), Nile perch (Lates niloticus) and snakeheads (Channa spp.)
    - 0304 61 00 — Tilapia (Oreochromis spp.)
  - Frozen fillets of other fish
    - 0304 89 — Other
      - 0304 89 10 — Freshwater fish
  - Other, frozen
    - 0304 93 — Tilapia (Oreochromis spp.), catfish (Pangasius spp., Silurus spp., Clarias spp., Ictalurus spp.), carp (Cyprinus carpio, Carassius carassius, Ctenopharyngodon idellus, Hypophthalmichthys spp., Cirrhinus spp., Mylopharyngodon piceus), eels (Anguilla spp.), Nile perch (Lates niloticus) and snakeheads (Channa spp.)
      - 0304 93 10 — Surimi
      - 0304 93 90 — Other
    - 0304 99 — Other
      - Other
        0304 99 21 — Freshwater fish
- 0305 — Fish, dried, salted or in brine; smoked fish, whether or not cooked before or during the smoking process; flours, meals and pellets of fish, fit for human consumption
  - Fish fillets, dried, salted or in brine, but not smoked
    - 0305 31 00 — Tilapia (Oreochromis spp.), catfish (Pangasius spp., Silurus spp., Clarias spp., Ictalurus spp.), carp (Cyprinus carpio, Carassius carassius, Ctenopharyngodon idellus, Hypophthalmichthys spp., Cirrhinus spp., Mylopharyngodon piceus), eels (Anguilla spp.), Nile perch (Lates niloticus) and snakeheads (Channa spp.)
  - Smoked fish, including fillets, other than edible fish offal
    - 0305 44 — Tilapia (Oreochromis spp.), catfish (Pangasius spp., Silurus spp., Clarias spp., Ictalurus spp.), carp (Cyprinus carpio, Carassius carassius, Ctenopharyngodon idellus, Hypophthalmichthys spp., Cirrhinus spp., Mylopharyngodon piceus), eels (Anguilla spp.), Nile perch (Lates niloticus) and snakeheads (Channa spp.)
      - 0305 44 90 — Other
  - Fish, salted but not dried or smoked and fish in brine, other than edible fish offal
    - 0305 64 00 — Tilapia (Oreochromis spp.), catfish (Pangasius spp., Silurus spp., Clarias spp., Ictalurus spp.), carp (Cyprinus carpio, Carassius carassius, Ctenopharyngodon idellus, Hypophthalmichthys spp., Cirrhinus spp., Mylopharyngodon piceus), eels (Anguilla spp.), Nile perch (Lates niloticus) and snakeheads (Channa spp.)

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Oreochromis mossambicus

Commercial designations

Main production methods

Main fishing gears

Gillnets and similar nets

Pots and traps

Seines

Habitat

FAO major fishing areas

Area 1 - Africa - Inland waters

Area 2 - America, North - Inland waters

Area 3 - America, South - Inland waters

Area 4 - Asia - Inland waters

Area 5 - Europe - Inland waters

Area 6 - Oceania - Inland waters

Area 71 - Pacific, Western Central

Distribution maps