Oreochromis aureus (Steindachner, 1864) – Non-native (Fig. 468)

Chromis aureus Steindachner [F.] 1864: 229; Type locality: West Africa. Lectotype: NMW 32874. Paralectotypes: (several).

Tilapia nilotica exul Steinitz [H.] 1951: 514; Type locality: Ein Feshkha, Dead Sea. Holotype: HUJ 1209. Paratypes: HUJ 1210– 12 (3).

Tilapia monodi Daget [J.] 1954: 344; Type locality: Diafarabé, Sudan and other localities. Syntypes: (55) MNHN 1954–0006 (1), 1960–0490 (6).

Tilapia lemassoni Blache [J.] & Miton [F.] 1960: 217; Type locality: Lake Chad basin. Syntypes: MNHN 1959–0222 (2) Mare de Mbélé, lower Logone; CEPFL 1190 (1), 1194 (1), 1200 (1), 749–56 (8), 758–69 (12), 773–76 (4).

Common name: Pr: Tilapi-e Abi, En: Blue tilapia, Israeli tilapia.

Diagnosis: Males grow remarkably larger than females and possess much better developed finnage. Soft rays of dorsal and anal fin are longer in mature males, and sometimes the vermillion margin of the dorsal fin is thickened with reduced (but not closed) notches. Pelvic fins of males usually longer than those of females, reaching anus or genital papilla, and this difference is more pronounced in larger specimens, dorsal and anal fins pointed in males and rounded in females. Standard length and snout length are larger in males, while iris diameter, head length, predorsal length, prepelvic and preanal length are smaller in males. Males with one urogenital opening, females with 2 separate urinary and genital pores.

Meristic characters: D: XVI–XIV 11–13, A: III 9–10, P: 13–14, V: 5, LS: 27–30, TV: 28–29.

Distribution: Tigris basin (Fig. 469). Found in Karun, Arvand and Bahmanshir Rivers.

Taxonomy: Lee et al. (1980) placed in Tilapia, but Krupp et al. (1989) transferred to Oreochromis.

Conservation: IUCN: Not Evaluated, PC: Non-native, Not Applicable.