Oreochromis mossambicus (Peters)

Hui, Tan Heok, Peng, Kelvin Lim Kok, Huan, Liew Jia, Wei, Low Bi, Hing, Rayson Lim Bock, Beng, Jeffrey Kwik Teik & Yeo, Darren C. J., 2020, The non-native freshwater fishes of Singapore: an annotated compilation, Raffles Bulletin of Zoology 68, pp. 150-195 : 179

Oreochromis mossambicus (Peters)

( Fig. 96 , AF[SPC])

References. Le Mare, 1949 (as Tilapia mossambica ); Burkill, 1961 (as Tilapia ); Johnson, 1964 (as Tilapia mossambica ); Alfred, 1966a (as Tilapia mossambicus , as early as 1944); Johnson, 1973a, 1973b (as Tilapia ); Tham, 1973 (as Tilapia mossambica ); Yang, 1984 (as Tilapia mossambicus ); Lim & Ng, 1990; Munro, 1990; Ng, 1991; Public Utilities Board, 1991 (as Tilapia mossambicus ); Ng et al., 1993; Fernando & Phang, 1994; Lim et al., 1995; Subaraj, 1995; Subaraj et al., 1995; Lever, 1996; Ng & Lim, 1997a, 1997b; Ng & Sivasothi, 1999; Goh et al., 2002; National Parks Board, 2003; Baker & Lim, 2008, 2012; Ng HH & Tan HH, 2010; Tan HH et al., 2010; Tan HTW et al., 2010; Yeo & Chia, 2010; Yeo & Lim, 2010; Davison et al., 2012; Jaafar et al., Distribution. Upper Seletar Reservoir (previously known as Seletar Reservoir; Johnson, 1973a; Yang, 1984; Munro, 1990); Pulau Ubin (Subaraj, 1995); MacRitchie Reservoir ( Subaraj et al., 1995); Lower Peirce Reservoir ( Lim et al., 1995; Ng & Lim, 1997a); Central Catchment Nature Reserve — Nee Soon Swamp Forest ( Ng & Lim, 1997a); Bedok Reservoir ( Ng HH & Tan HH, 2010); Tekong Reservoir ( Ng HH & Tan HH, 2010); Marina Reservoir — encompassing Singapore River, Rochor canal, Kallang River and Geylang River ( Tan HH et al., 2010); Singapore Botanic Gardens ( Yeo & Lim, 2010); Siglap canal ( Leong, 2012); Pangsua pond ( Kwik et al., 2013); Woodlands Town Park pond ( Kwik et al., 2013); Yishun pond ( Kwik et al., 2013); Punggol Reservoir ( Ng PX & Tan HH, 2013; Theng et al., 2016); Serangoon Reservoir ( Ng PX & Tan, 2013; Theng et al., 2016); Bishan Park ( Yeo, 2013; Tan, 2016c); West Coast Park marsh pond ( Tan, 2014a); Hindhede Quarry (Tan HH, pers. obs., July 2014); Marina Reservoir ( Tan YK et al., 2015); Marina South ( Tan & Koh, 2016); Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve ( National Parks Board, 2003; Theng et al., 2016); Kent Ridge Park ponds ( Tan, 2016b); Tai Seng area (Tan HH, pers. obs., 2016); Pulau Tekong ( Lim et al., 2016); Singapore Quarry ( Tan et al., 2017b); Jurong Lake (unpublished data).

Remarks. This species was introduced as a source of food by the Japanese Army from Javan population during the Japanese Occupation of Singapore (1942–1945) ( Alfred, 1966a; Tham, 1973; Lim & Ng, 1990; Yeo & Chia, 2010). It is now widespread in all Central Catchment reservoirs and other artificial water bodies and brackish water habitats ( Ng & Lim, 1997b; Baker & Lim, 2008, 2012). The juveniles of this species are sometimes sold as live feed in the ornamental fish trade (Tan HH, pers. obs.).

Figures

Fig. 96. Oreochromis mossambicus, 150 mm SL male (top), 100 mm SL female (bottom); Pandan Reservoir.