Coptodon

Freyhof, JÖrg, Yoğurtçuoğlu, Baran, Jouladeh-Roudbar, Arash & Kaya, Cüneyt, 2025, Handbook of Freshwater Fishes of West Asia, De Gruyter : 782-785

Coptodon

Coptodon comprises approximately 35 species, which are primarily distributed in West Africa. Many species have relatively small distribution ranges in tropical rainforests. Some species are found in coastal lagoons and may forage in marine habitats. The concept of a widespread coastal species ( C. guineensis ) has recently been rejected, and the number of Coptodon species may be grossly underestimated. Two crater lakes in Cameroon host endemic species flocks: Lake Bermin with 11 species and Lake Ejagham with four species. Coptodon are macroherbivores and, if available, feed on plants. They graze submerged vegetation and, during high water levels, migrate into forests and

other terrestrial ecosystems to feed on flooded plants. It is common to observe them leaping out of the water to bite pieces from overhanging leaves. As some Coptodon species are particularly abundant, their grazing structures freshwater ecosystems. They may also play an important role in the

Coptodon zillii ; Lake KÖyceğiz, Türkiye; male, ~ 160 mm SL. Coptodon zillii ; Lake Maryut, Egypt; nuptial male, ~ 100 mm SL.

dispersal of seeds. Many species grow to a large size and are of importance in both subsistence and commercial fisheries. Further reading. Stiassny et al. 1992 (Bermin); Dunz & Schliewen 2010 (Ejagham); Dunz & Schliewen 2013 (generic concept); Kide et al. 2016 (diversity of coastal species).

Coptodon zillii Both parents guard larvae and juveniles for about 4 weeks. Common name. Redbelly tilapia. Survives temperatures as low as 6.5 and as high as 42.5°C,

Diagnosis. Distinguished from other species of Cichlidae but only briefly, unable to survive below 10°C for more than in West Asia by: ● chest red or red and black in adults, red a few hours. Harsh winters cause mortality in northern colour restricted to lateral chest in juveniles (rarely absent) part of range. Survives in salinities up to 45 ‰ and repro- / ○ lower jaw not projecting / ○ caudal with tessellate pattern duces in salinities up to 29 ‰. Feeds mainly on aquatic and / ○ chest, belly, and isthmus in front of pelvic covered terrestrial macrophytes but also on invertebrates, algae, by small scales / ○ 8–11 gill rakers on lower part of first detritus, and virtually all organic matter. Of great economic branchial arch / ○ 3 anal spines / ○ scales cycloid / ○ no ocelli importance in sub-Saharan Africa as a food fish for smallon anal. Size up to 400 mm SL, usually about 200 mm SL. scale fisheries, rarely used in aquaculture. Introduced for

Distribution. In West Asia, native to Jordan drainage and aquatic weed and mosquito control, as forage or food fish, possibly a few adjacent coastal streams. Introduced in Köy- and for aquaculture. Several studies show negative impacts ceğiz and Burdur basins in Türkiye; Euphrates and Tigris on native biodiversity, adverse effects on aquatic plants, in Syria, Iraq, and Iran; Azraq oasis in Jordan; and Ceyhan and it is a pest in rice plantations.

and Orontes drainage in Syria and Türkiye. Also native to Conservation status. LC.

Nile drainage and Lakes Albert and Turkana. Widespread Remarks. Populations of C. zillii from Morocco, Algeria, in West Africa, including Senegal, Gambia, Niger, Chad, and West Africa, the Nile, and Jordan are almost identical in Volta, and many coastal rivers in Ivory Coast and between their mitochondrial DNA, suggesting a very recent inva- Volta and Niger. Occurs in Ubangui, Ulele, and Ituri in sion of this species into the Levant and a recent interrupcentral Congo basin. Morocco: Lower valley of Oued Dr’aa tion of gene flow between the Niger, Senegal, Nile, and and Oued Aouedri, a small Saharan valley between Tan Tan many coastal rivers in West Africa. Locally misidentified as and Tarfaya. Algeria: Tolga, Zibans, and Touggourt oases in C. rendalli in 20 th century.

northern Sahara and on western slopes of Ahaggar, in Tassili Further reading. Geiger et al. 2014 (molecular divern’ Ajjer, and Arak, a tributary of Botha, all in southern Alge- sity); Nico et al. 2016 (distribution, effects of non-native rian Sahara. Tunisia: Kebili oasis and perhaps more widely populations).

in eastern and southern Chott el Djerid basin. In Sahara:

Tibesti, Ennedi, and Borkou mountains. Introduced almost

everywhere in subtropical and tropical areas of Southeast

Asia, Australia, India, Madagascar, New Caledonia, Fiji,

Guam, Taiwan, China, Philippines, Japan, Antigua, Mexico,

and the USA, including Hawaii and elsewhere.

Habitat. Hypersaline desert ponds and wadis to small rain-

forest streams with soft and acidic water. Often very abun-

dant in standing water, such as lakes, large rivers, or reser-

voirs with dense riparian vegetation.

Biology. Usually lives 3–5 years. Matures at about 80 mm

SL. Growth extremely variable depending on tempera-

ture and food availability; may spawn after a year in West

Asia but mature within 4 months in tropics. Forms pairs

that defend territories against other fish. Usually, females

defend a smaller inner territory and males a larger outer Haplochromis

territory around spawning site. Females lay sticky eggs on Haplochromis and related genera from Africa’s Lake Victoria surfaces such as stones or wood, often in shelters or small region represent the largest cichlid fish genus and the most depressions in substrate dug by both parents. Spawns species awaiting description. These fishes provide textbook throughout year in tropical range, late spring to summer in examples of adaptive radiations and the role of hybridisa- West Asia when water temperatures rise above 20°C. Stops tion in speciation and evolution. While being very speciose spawning when water temperature rises above 28°C. Both and morphologically as well as ecologically very diverse parents fan eggs, picking up debris and dead eggs. Larvae in Africa, there is only one species native to Asia, which is usually hatch 48 hours after spawning (25°C) and are trans- distantly related to the “Lake Victoria Region Superflock.” ferred to small burrows in substrate or under wood or Further reading. Meier et al. 2017 (phylogeny, species diverstones. Larvae begin to feed about a week after spawning. sity, evolution); Moser et al. 2018 (fast speciation).

Haplochromis flaviijosephi ; Jordan drainage, Syria; male, neutral mood; ~ 70 mm SL. Haplochromis flaviijosephi ; Jordan drainage, Israel; male, territorial mood; ~ 80 mm SL. © E. Schraml.