Oreochromis

The genus Oreochromis encompasses several species of fish commonly known as tilapia. These fish are primarily freshwater species native to Africa and are widely recognized for their potential as a food source due to their rapid growth, disease resistance, and ability to consume readily available algae and zooplankton.1

Historically, all tilapias were classified under the genus Tilapia. However, they are now divided into mouth-brooding genera, including Oreochromis, and those that deposit eggs on the bottom of aquatic environments, which remain in the genus Tilapia. The Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) is one of the most extensively cultured and introduced species. Tilapia farming has a long history, dating back to ancient Egyptian civilizations, and they have since been introduced to freshwater habitats worldwide. They are a significant species in aquaculture, a practice that involves the cultivation of aquatic organisms.12