Marine Life

Mozambique cichlid, Tilapia

Footumas, Thelaapia

Oreochromis mossambicus

In 1964, the Japanese Research Vessel Fuji Maru brought Oreochromis mossambicus from Sri Lanka to the Maldives as bait, and Mr. N.T. Hassan Didi distributed it on Huraa Island in Kaafu Atoll. This species is now common in several locations and was previously recorded under the genus Sarotherodon in the Catalogue of Fishes of the Maldives, Vol. 1, page 50.

Details

§ 01

size: Max. 36 cm
color: Body greenish brown. About 5 dark bars on sides. Pelvic fin dark brown to black. Pectoral fin pale.
order: Perciformes
family: Cichlidae
image url: https://assets.explore.mv/fishes/oreochromis-mossambicus.png
habitat and biology: This species of fish can be found in freshwater, brackish water, and seawater, though it is rarely seen in the open ocean. It feeds on a variety of plants, insects, crustaceans, and other fish.
distinctive characters: This fish has a dorsal fin with 15-17 spines and 10-13 rays, an anal fin with 3 spines and 7-10 rays, pectoral fin rays 13-14, a body depth of 2.3 in standard length, a compressed and oblong body, moderately large scales, a pectoral fin as long as the head, and a maxillary that does not extend to the front border of the eye.