''Sarotherodon'' is a genus of

oreochromine Oreochromini is a tribe of cichlids in the Pseudocrenilabrinae subfamily that is native to Africa and Western Asia, but a few species have been widely introduced to other parts of the world. It was formerly considered to be part of the tribe Ti ...

cichlid Cichlids are fish from the family Cichlidae in the order Cichliformes. Cichlids were traditionally classed in a suborder, the Labroidei, along with the wrasses ( Labridae), in the order Perciformes, but molecular studies have contradicted this ...

s that are native to the northern half of Africa (south as far as the Congo River basin), with a single species, ''S. galilaeus'', also ranging into the Levant. A couple of species from this genus have been introduced far outside their native range, and are important in

aquaculture Aquaculture (less commonly spelled aquiculture), also known as aquafarming, is the controlled cultivation ("farming") of aquatic organisms such as fish, crustaceans, mollusks, algae and other organisms of value such as aquatic plants (e.g. lot ...

(''S. galilaeus'' and to a lesser degree ''S. melanotheron''). Most other species have small ranges and some are seriously threatened. They mainly inhabit fresh and brackish water, but a few can live in salt water (at least for a period). Species in this genus, as well as those in several other oreochromine and

tilapiine The Tilapiini (occasionally Tilapini) are a tribe within the family Cichlidae commonly known as tilapiine cichlids. Formerly this tribe contained many other genera and species, including the economically important ''Oreochromis'' and ''Sarothe ...

genera, share the common name " tilapia" and historically they were included in the genus '' Tilapia''. Based on mtDNA sequence analysis, there seem to be several

clade A clade (), also known as a monophyletic group or natural group, is a group of organisms that are monophyletic – that is, composed of a common ancestor and all its lineal descendants – on a phylogenetic tree. Rather than the English term, ...

s in this genus, and a few species of the much larger genus ''Oreochromis'' (such as ''Oreochromis urolepis'' and the blue tilapia ''O. aureus'') seem closer to ''Sarotherodon'' according to the mtDNA data (see discussion at Wami tilapia). Research is hampered by the fact that

hybridization Hybridization (or hybridisation) may refer to: *Hybridization (biology), the process of combining different varieties of organisms to create a hybrid *Orbital hybridization, in chemistry, the mixing of atomic orbitals into new hybrid orbitals *Nu ...

runs rampant in these fishes, which confounds mtDNA data, and that the fast speed of evolution makes choice of appropriate nuclear DNA sequences difficult.

Species

There are currently 13 recognized species in this genus: * ''

Sarotherodon caroli The fissi (''Sarotherodon caroli'') is a species of cichlid endemic to Lake Barombi Mbo in western Cameroon. This species can reach a length of SL. It is threatened because of pollution and sedimentation due to human activities. It is potenti ...

'' ( Holly, 1930) (Fissi) * ''

Sarotherodon caudomarginatus ''Sarotherodon'' is a genus of oreochromine cichlids that are native to the northern half of Africa (south as far as the Congo River basin), with a single species, ''S. galilaeus'', also ranging into the Levant. A couple of species from this ge ...

'' (

Boulenger Boulenger is a surname. Notable people with the surname include: * Benjamin Boulenger (born 1990), French footballer * Edward George Boulenger (1888–1946), British zoologist, director of aquarium at London Zoo * George Albert Boulenger (1858–1 ...

, 1916) * '' Sarotherodon galilaeus'' ( Linnaeus,

1758 Events January–March * January 1 – Swedish biologist Carl Linnaeus (Carl von Linné) publishes in Stockholm the first volume (''Animalia'') of the 10th edition of Systema Naturae, 10th edition of ''Systema Naturae'', the sta ...

) ** ''

Sarotherodon galilaeus borkuanus ''Sarotherodon'' is a genus of oreochromine cichlids that are native to the northern half of Africa (south as far as the Congo River basin), with a single species, ''S. galilaeus'', also ranging into the Levant. A couple of species from this ge ...

'' ( Pellegrin, 1919) ** ''

Sarotherodon galilaeus boulengeri ''Sarotherodon'' is a genus of oreochromine cichlids that are native to the northern half of Africa (south as far as the Congo River basin), with a single species, ''S. galilaeus'', also ranging into the Levant. A couple of species from this ge ...

'' ( Pellegrin, 1903) ** '' Sarotherodon galilaeus galilaeus'' ( Linnaeus,

) (Mango tilapia) ** ''

Sarotherodon galilaeus multifasciatus ''Sarotherodon'' is a genus of oreochromine cichlids that are native to the northern half of Africa (south as far as the Congo River basin), with a single species, ''S. galilaeus'', also ranging into the Levant. A couple of species from this ge ...

'' ( Günther, 1903) ** ''

Sarotherodon galilaeus sanagaensis ''Sarotherodon'' is a genus of oreochromine cichlids that are native to the northern half of Africa (south as far as the Congo River basin), with a single species, ''S. galilaeus'', also ranging into the Levant. A couple of species from this g ...

'' ( Thys van den Audenaerde, 1966) * ''

Sarotherodon knauerae ''Sarotherodon knauerae'' is a species of cichlid endemic to Lake Ejagham in western Cameroon. This species can reach a length of SL and feeds on detritus. It has not yet been rated by the IUCN, but it likely faces the same risks as the cr ...

'' D. Neumann, Stiassny & Schliewen, 2011 * '' Sarotherodon lamprechti'' D. Neumann, Stiassny & Schliewen, 2011 * ''

Sarotherodon linnellii ''Sarotherodon linnellii'', sometimes known as the unga, blackfin tilapia or blackbelly tilapia, is a cichlid endemic to Lake Barombi Mbo in western Cameroon. This species reaches a length of SL. It is critically endangered because of pollut ...

'' ( Lönnberg, 1903) (Blackfin tilapia) * '' Sarotherodon lohbergeri'' ( Holly, 1930) (Keppi) * ''

Sarotherodon melanotheron The blackchin tilapia (''Sarotherodon melanotheron'') is a species of cichlid native to coastal west Africa. It is a paternal mouthbrooder which has been introduced to Asia and North America. In the Philippines, it is also informally called ''g ...

'' Rüppell, 1852 ** ''

Sarotherodon melanotheron heudelotii ''Sarotherodon'' is a genus of oreochromine cichlids that are native to the northern half of Africa (south as far as the Congo River basin), with a single species, ''S. galilaeus'', also ranging into the Levant. A couple of species from this g ...

'' ( A. H. A. Duméril, 1861) ** '' Sarotherodon melanotheron leonensis'' ( Thys van den Audenaerde, 1971) ** '' Sarotherodon melanotheron melanotheron'' Rüppell, 1852 (Blackchin tilapia) * '' Sarotherodon mvogoi'' ( Thys van den Audenaerde, 1965) * '' Sarotherodon nigripinnis'' (Guichenot, 1861) ** '' Sarotherodon nigripinnis dolloi'' (

, 1899) ** '' Sarotherodon nigripinnis nigripinnis'' ( Guichenot, 1861) * ''

Sarotherodon occidentalis ''Sarotherodon'' is a genus of oreochromine cichlids that are native to the northern half of Africa (south as far as the Congo River basin), with a single species, ''S. galilaeus'', also ranging into the Levant. A couple of species from this g ...

'' ( Daget, 1962) * '' Sarotherodon steinbachi'' ( Trewavas, 1962) (Kululu) * ''

Sarotherodon tournieri ''Sarotherodon'' is a genus of oreochromine cichlids that are native to the northern half of Africa (south as far as the Congo River basin), with a single species, ''S. galilaeus'', also ranging into the Levant. A couple of species from this gen ...

'' (Daget, 1965) ** '' Sarotherodon tournieri liberiensis'' ( Thys van den Audenaerde, 1971) ** '' Sarotherodon tournieri tournieri'' ( Daget, 1965)

References

Oreochromini Cichlid genera Taxa named by Eduard Rüppell {{Tilapiini-stub