Oreochromis | 水產百科網

Oreochromisisalargegenusoforeochrominecichlids,fishesendemictoAfricaandtheMiddle...inseveralotheroreochromineandtilapiinegenera,sharethecommonnametilapiaandhistoricallymostwereincludedinthegenusTilapia.

Genus of fishes

Oreochromis is a large genus of oreochromine cichlids, fishes endemic to Africa and the Middle East. A few species from this genus have been introduced far outside their native range and are important in aquaculture. Many others have very small ranges; some are seriously threatened, and O. ismailiaensis and O. lidole possibly are extinct.[1] Although Oreochromis primarily are freshwater fish of rivers, lakes and similar habitats, several species can also thrive in brackish waters and some even survive in hypersaline conditions with a salinity that far surpasses that of seawater.[1] In addition to overfishing and habitat loss, some of the more localized species are threatened by the introduction of other, more widespread Oreochromis species into their ranges. This is because they—in addition to competing for the local resources—often are able to hy...