Genus: Oreochromis, Cichlids, Tilapia Cichlid

OREOCHROMIS

CICHLIDS

Body an elongate oblong; 1 pair of nostrils; top jaw highly protrusible; teeth fine, close set, in several rows on jaws, outer row readily movable; fine teeth on throat plate, those at rear with 2 points, sometimes 1 smaller, sometimes no clear point; tooth plate in throat longer than wide; gill rakers simple, lower rakers 14-28; one dorsal fin XIV-XVIII, without a notch between spines and rays; anal fin III, 9-12; lateral line in 2 straight overlapping sections, with 30-35 large scales; scales on belly smaller than those on flank; juveniles but not adults with a dark spot on base of front dorsal fin soft rays; genital papilla large, elaborate; lateral line in 2 straight overlapping sections.

An E African genus of freshwater fishes with at least 45 species. Four that enter brackish water have been introduced to parts of the Greater Caribbean.