Oreochromis niloticus (Linnaeus, 1758)

Fig. 35

Body deep; greatest body depth contained 2.3 to 2.9, head depth 3.0 to 4.0 and caudal peduncle depth 6.3 to 7.3 times in SL; head length 2.7 to 3.2 and caudal peduncle length 7.0 to 10.0 in SL; snout length 2.5 to 3.3, horizontal orbital diameter 3.1 to 5.0 and least interorbital width 2.2 to 3.2 to in HL. Mouth terminal; premaxilla and dentary with three or more teeth rows. Upper lateral line with 21-23, lower lateral line with 13-16 pored scales and longitudinal series with 30-35 scales. Transversal series above upper lateral line with 4-5 scale rows and below lower lateral line with 8-12 scale row. Dorsal fin with XVII-XVIII,11-15, pectoral fin with 14-16, pelvic fin with I,5 and anal fin with III,8-10 rays. Ground color greyish to pale brown; black rounded blotch on posterior margin of opercle; dark-brown transverse bars on flank. Dorsal, anal and pelvic fins hyaline and scattered with dark-brown spots; caudal fin with dark-brown spots united forming transverse stripes.

Maximum standard length. 200.0 mm (Graça, Pavanelli, 2007).

Distribution. Africa, widely introduced everywhere (Eschmeyer et al., 2017), including Brazil.

Remarks. Oreochromis niloticus is an African species, widely introduced in South America by fish farming.