The Mozambique tilapia is also known as the blue bream, or blue kurper and is of great interest to scientists as it is a 'mouth-brooder' which can tolerate a wide range of salinity.
Other names: Afrikaans -- Blou-kurper :
The Mozambique tilapia species is indigenous to the warmer waters of south eastern Africa, with its natural home reaching south along the east coast as far as the Bushmans River in the eastern Cape. Mozambique tilapia can now be found as far as the south western Cape.
TAlthough the Mozambique tilapia is classified as a freshwater fish, it appears to adapt to live in waters that are even saltier that the sea. This is thought to be because they live in coastal estuaries which have varying degrees of salinity.
Mozambique tilapia have considerable commercial value - they breed rapidly and are a sought after fish for human consumption. The varied diet of the Mozambique tilapia includes algae, plants, insect larvae and worms, enabling a given stretch of water to support more Mozambique tilapia than many other species.
Interesting facts about Mozambique Tilapia statistics / bio:
Diet: A varied diet of that includes algae, plants, insect larvae and worms.
Reproduction (Breeding): During breeding time the male scoops out a shallow 'nest' in the bed of the lake or pool. The female Mozambique tilapia lays her eggs in this depression, and the male Mozambique tilapia fertilises them; after which the female sucks them up in her mouth. She holds them in her mouth for several days, directing a flow of water over the eggs with gentle movements of her mouth. After the young Mozambique tilapia fish hatch, they will stay close to the female, scurrying for safety into their mothers mouth if there is any sudden movement in the water.
Distribution (Range): The Mozambique tilapia are found naturally from the lower Zambezi, southwards down to the Bushmans River in the eastern Cape, and occur almost throughout the Limpopo River system, and has been introduced to the southern and south western Cape and Namibia.
Size: The average weight of a Mozambique tilapia is 1 kg, but they can reach a weight of almost 3,5 kg.
Colour: The Mozambique tilapia is green along the back, with silver flanks and a grey-white belly, and they often have three darkish blotches on each flank. The colouring of the male Mozambique tilapia becomes a dark bluish black above during the breeding season, with whiter on the throat and the chest, the tail fins and edges of the dorsal often becoming scarlet.
Most like: They are similar to the redbreast tilapia - Tilapia rendalli - and the banded tilapia - Tilapia sparrmanii - the difference being that the Mozambique tilapia lacks the red chest of the redbreast tilapia, and the vertical bars of the banded tilapia.
Habitat: The Mozambique tilapia is found in lakes and slow flowing rivers, and in estuaries.
Best places to see the Mozambique Tilapia in Southern Africa:
• Kruger National Park
 Fishes of Southern Africa >> Printable Freshwater Fish List <<
South African Fish Species >> Printable Freshwater Fish List <<
Wildlife - Fauna & Flora of Southern Africa
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