Zille's Cichlid
Coptodon zillii
- Class
- Ray-finned fish
- Rarity
- Common
- Observations
- 1,028
- Most observed in
- 🇹🇼 Taiwan
- Conservation
- Least Concern
Description
The redbelly tilapia (Coptodon zillii, syn. Tilapia zillii), also known as the Zille's redbreast tilapia or St. Peter's fish (a name also used for other tilapia in Israel), is a species of fish in the cichlid family. This fish is found widely in fresh and brackish waters in the northern half of Africa and the Middle East. Elsewhere in Africa, Asia, Australia and North America, it has been introduced as a food fish or as a control of aquatic vegetation. Where introduced, it sometimes becomes invasive, threatening the local ecology and species. The redbelly tilapia is an important food fish and sometimes aquacultured. The species was named by Paul Gervais in honor of M. (probably Monsieur) Zill, a "distinguished naturalist" who collected the type specimen and sent it to Gervais.
Summary adapted from the Wikipedia article “Redbelly tilapia”.