Sarotherodon
Encyclopedia
Sarotherodon is a genus
of tilapiine cichlid
s, 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. They mainly inhabit fresh and brackish water, but a few can live in salt water (at least for a period). Members of this genus, as well as those of the genera Tilapia
and Oreochromis
, share the common name "tilapia
".
The genus currently contains 13 species. Based on mtDNA sequence
analysis, there seem to be several clade
s, 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 runs rampant in these fishes, which confounds mtDNA data, and that the fast speed of evolution
makes choice of appropriate nuclear DNA
sequences difficult.(Nagl et al. 2001)
Genus
In biology, a genus is a low-level taxonomic rank used in the biological classification of living and fossil organisms, which is an example of definition by genus and differentia...
of tilapiine cichlid
Cichlid
Cichlids are fishes from the family Cichlidae in the order Perciformes. Cichlids are members of a group known as the Labroidei along with the wrasses , damselfish , and surfperches . This family is both large and diverse. At least 1,300 species have been scientifically described, making it one of...
s, fishes endemic
Endemic (ecology)
Endemism is the ecological state of being unique to a defined geographic location, such as an island, nation or other defined zone, or habitat type; organisms that are indigenous to a place are not endemic to it if they are also found elsewhere. For example, all species of lemur are endemic to the...
to Africa
Africa
Africa is the world's second largest and second most populous continent, after Asia. At about 30.2 million km² including adjacent islands, it covers 6% of the Earth's total surface area and 20.4% of the total land area...
and the Middle East
Middle East
The Middle East is a region that encompasses Western Asia and Northern Africa. It is often used as a synonym for Near East, in opposition to Far East...
. A few species from this genus have been introduced
Introduced species
An introduced species — or neozoon, alien, exotic, non-indigenous, or non-native species, or simply an introduction, is a species living outside its indigenous or native distributional range, and has arrived in an ecosystem or plant community by human activity, either deliberate or accidental...
far outside their native range, and are important in aquaculture. They mainly inhabit fresh and brackish water, but a few can live in salt water (at least for a period). Members of this genus, as well as those of the genera Tilapia
Tilapia (genus)
Tilapia is a large genus of cichlid fishes endemic to Africa, except for a single species that also occurs in the Middle East. The vast majority of the species are from tropical Western and Middle Africa, but there are also a few species in Northern, Eastern and Southern Africa...
and Oreochromis
Oreochromis
Oreochromis is a large genus of tilapiine cichlids, fishes endemic to Africa and the Middle East. Several species from this genus have been introduced far outside their native range, and are important in aquaculture...
, share the common name "tilapia
Tilapia
Tilapia , is the common name for nearly a hundred species of cichlid fish from the tilapiine cichlid tribe. Tilapia inhabit a variety of fresh water habitats, including shallow streams, ponds, rivers and lakes. Historically, they have been of major importance in artisan fishing in Africa and the...
".
The genus currently contains 13 species. Based on mtDNA sequence
DNA sequence
The sequence or primary structure of a nucleic acid is the composition of atoms that make up the nucleic acid and the chemical bonds that bond those atoms. Because nucleic acids, such as DNA and RNA, are unbranched polymers, this specification is equivalent to specifying the sequence of...
analysis, there seem to be several clade
Clade
A clade is a group consisting of a species and all its descendants. In the terms of biological systematics, a clade is a single "branch" on the "tree of life". The idea that such a "natural group" of organisms should be grouped together and given a taxonomic name is central to biological...
s, 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 runs rampant in these fishes, which confounds mtDNA data, and that the fast speed of evolution
Evolution
Evolution is any change across successive generations in the heritable characteristics of biological populations. Evolutionary processes give rise to diversity at every level of biological organisation, including species, individual organisms and molecules such as DNA and proteins.Life on Earth...
makes choice of appropriate nuclear DNA
Nuclear DNA
Nuclear DNA, nuclear deoxyribonucleic acid , is DNA contained within a nucleus of eukaryotic organisms. In mammals and vertebrates, nuclear DNA encodes more of the genome than the mitochondrial DNA and is composed of information inherited from two parents, one male, and one female, rather than...
sequences difficult.(Nagl et al. 2001)
Species
- FissiFissiThe fissi is a critically endangered species of fish in the Cichlidae family. It is endemic to Lake Barombi Mbo in western Cameroon...
, Sarotherodon caroli (Holly, 1930) - Sarotherodon caudomarginatus (Boulenger, 1916)
- Sarotherodon galilaeus (Linnaeus, 1758)
- Sarotherodon knaueraeSarotherodon knaueraeSarotherodon knauerae is a species of fish in the cichlid family. It is endemic to Lake Ejagham in western Cameroon. It was only scientifically described in 2011 and has therefore not been rated by the IUCN, but it likely faces the same risks as the critically endangered Tilapia deckerti, which is...
Neumann, Stiassny & Schliewen, 2011 - Sarotherodon lamprechtiSarotherodon lamprechtiSarotherodon lamprechti is a species of fish in the cichlid family. It is endemic to Lake Ejagham in western Cameroon. It was only scientifically described in 2011 and has therefore not been rated by the IUCN, but it likely faces the same risks as the critically endangered Tilapia deckerti, which...
Neumann, Stiassny & Schliewen, 2011 - Sarotherodon linnelliiSarotherodon linnelliiSarotherodon linnellii, sometimes known as the blackfin tilapia or blackbelly tilapia, is a critically endangered species of fish in the cichlid family. It is endemic to Lake Barombi Mbo in western Cameroon...
(Lönnberg, 1903) - Sarotherodon lohbergeri (Holly, 1930)
- Sarotherodon melanotheron Rüppell, 1852
- Sarotherodon mvogoi (Thys van den Audenaerde, 1965)
- Sarotherodon nigripinnis (Guichenot, 1861)
- Sarotherodon occidentalis (Daget, 1962)
- KululuKululuThe kululu is a critically endangered species of fish in the Cichlidae family. It is endemic to Lake Barombi Mbo in western Cameroon...
, Sarotherodon steinbachi (Trewavas, 1962) - Sarotherodon tournieri (Daget, 1965)