Teleostei (teleosts) >
Cichliformes (Cichlids, convict blennies) >
Cichlidae (Cichlids) > Pseudocrenilabrinae
Eponymy: Monsieur Zill was referred to by Gervais as “…the distinguished naturalist” (translation) who collected the type and sent it to Gervais at the MNHN, Paris. [...] (Ref. 128868), visit book page.
Environment: milieu / climate zone / depth range / distribution range
Ecology
Freshwater; brackish; benthopelagic; pH range: 6.0 - 9.0; dH range: 5 - 20; potamodromous (Ref. 51243); depth range 1 - 7 m (Ref. 4967). Tropical; 11°C - 36°C (Ref. 3); 35°N - 9°S, 17°W - 36°E
Africa and Eurasia: South Morocco, Sahara, Niger-Benue system, rivers Senegal, Sassandra, Bandama, Boubo, Mé, Comoé, Bia, Ogun and Oshun, Volta system, Chad-Shari system (Ref. 5163), middle Congo River basin in the Ubangi, Uele (Ref. 55074), Itimbiri, Aruwimi (Ref. 55074, 106290), Lindi-Tshopo (Ref. 106290) and Wagenia Falls (Ref. 106245) in Democratic Republic of the Congo, Lakes Albert (Ref. 55074) and Turkana, Nile system and Jordan system (Ref. 5163). Several countries report adverse ecological impact after introduction.
Length at first maturity / Size / Weight / Age
Maturity: Lm 7.0, range 20 - ? cm
Max length : 40.0 cm SL male/unsexed; (Ref. 34290); common length : 30.0 cm SL male/unsexed; (Ref. 34290); max. published weight: 300.00 g (Ref. 3799); max. reported age: 7 years (Ref. 164)
Dorsal spines (total): 13 - 16; Dorsal soft rays (total): 10 - 14; Anal spines: 3; Anal soft rays: 8 - 10. Diagnosis: A large, deep-bodied species with a narrow head and small strong jaws; generally has a bright red belly and prominent vertical barring (Ref. 118638). Upper profile of head not convex; lower pharyngeal bone about as long as broad, and with anterior lamella shorter than toothed area; median pharyngeal teeth not broadened; dorsal fin with 14-16 spines and 10-14 soft rays; 8-11 lower gillrakers; dark longitudinal band appears on flanks when agitated; no bifurcated dark vertical bars on flanks; dorsal and caudal fins not or feebly blotched (Ref. 53405). Body brownish-olivaceous with an iridescent blue sheen; lips bright green (Ref. 34290, 53405). Chest pinkish (Ref. 34290). Dorsal, caudal and anal fins brownish-olivaceous with yellow spots, dorsal and anal fins outlined by narrow orange band; "tilapian" spot large, extending from last spine to 4th soft ray and always bordered by yellow band (Ref. 34290, 53405). Specimens of 2-14 cm standard length with completely yellowish or greyish caudal fin without dots, but tend to develop a greyish caudal fin with dots of increasing size during development; above 14 cm standard length, this species has greyish caudal fins with dots on entire caudal fin (Ref. 57660). The sexes look very similar, although in a mated pair the male is usually larger (Ref. 118638). Difficult to distinguish reliably from Coptodon rendalli, but C. zillii can have a less-steep head profile and more prominent vertical bars; in East Africa, the tailfin of C. rendalli is often divided into a brown/grey upper part and red/yellowish lower part, whereas the tail of C. zillii is more uniform throughout (Ref. 118638).
Highly adaptable and tolerates varying water qualities (Ref. 52307); they are tolerant of a wide range of temperatures and salinities (Ref. 118638), even surviving marine conditions (Ref. 52307). Extended temperature range 6.5 - 42.5 °C, natural temperature range 10.5 - 36°C (Ref. 3). Occasionally form schools; mainly diurnal. Prefers shallow, vegetated areas (Ref. 4967). Fry are common in marginal vegetation and juveniles are found in the seasonal floodplain. Herbivorous (Ref. 52307), adults feed on leaves and stems of underwater plants as well as algae and vegetative detritus (Ref. 118638). A substrate spawner (Ref. 28714, 52307); male and female form pairs to rear the young (Ref. 118638); aggs and larvae are usually guarded in a pit dug in the mud (Ref. 118638). Parental care is very thorough and undertaken by both parties; large specimens may deposit 1000 eggs per spawn, preferably on hard surfaces; hatching occurs about 96 hours post spawning, and juveniles swim freely about 4-6 days later (Ref. 52307). Larvae develop in close association with substrate.
Spawns in lake bottoms with pebbles or sand and abundant vegetation (Ref. 3). Lays adhesive eggs on the substratum which are guarded by both parents (Ref. 6298). Reported to deposit and guard eggs in shallow nest (Ref. 12069). Produces up to 1000 eggs (Ref. 1672).
Dunz, A.R. and U.K. Schliewen, 2013. Molecular phylogeny and revised classification of the haplotilapiine cichlid fishes formerly referred to as "Tilapia". Mol. Phylogenet. Evol. 68(1):64-80. (Ref. 93285)
IUCN Red List Status (Ref. 130435: Version 2024-2)
Threat to humans
Potential pest
Human uses
Fisheries: commercial; aquaculture: commercial; aquarium: commercial
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Estimates based on models
Phylogenetic diversity index (Ref.
82804): PD
50 = 0.5000 [Uniqueness, from 0.5 = low to 2.0 = high].
Bayesian length-weight: a=0.01514 (0.01298 - 0.01765), b=2.99 (2.95 - 3.03), in cm total length, based on LWR estimates for this species (Ref.
93245).
Trophic level (Ref.
69278): 2.5 ±0.1 se; based on diet studies.
Generation time: 2.2 (1.5 - 4.7) years. Estimated as median ln(3)/K based on 11
growth studies.
Resilience (Ref.
120179): Medium, minimum population doubling time 1.4 - 4.4 years (K=0.2-0.5; tm=2-3; tmax=7; Fec = 715 - 1,147).
Fishing Vulnerability (Ref.
59153): Low to moderate vulnerability (27 of 100).
Nutrients (Ref.
124155): Calcium = 147 [76, 253] mg/100g; Iron = 1.18 [0.67, 2.29] mg/100g; Protein = 18.4 [16.4, 20.3] %; Omega3 = 0.187 [0.092, 0.407] g/100g; Selenium = 43.7 [23.5, 82.5] μg/100g; VitaminA = 18.5 [4.8, 49.7] μg/100g; Zinc = 2.19 [1.56, 3.22] mg/100g (wet weight); based on
nutrient studies.
