The first record of the redbelly tilapia, Tilapia zillii (Gervais, 1848), in freshwaters of Iran

Translocation and new geographical distribution of the invasive Redbelly Tilapia, Coptodon zillii (Gervais, 1848) (Teleostei: Cichlidae) in southern Iran

“…The introduction and translocation of exotic species are owing to aquaculture, the control of malaria and accidental introduction. According to Khaefi et al (2014), Coptodon zillii has been recorded in the Shadegan wetland of southwestern Iran in 2012. However, based on the statements of local fishermen soon after 2012, it was available in daily catches (Khaefi et al 2014).…”

“…Coptodon zillii has been reported from Egypt, Jordan, and Lebanon as a native fish, and from Saudi Arabia, Syria, Iraq, and recently Iran as an introduced species (Job 1967;Coad 2012;Khaefi et al 2014;Roozbhfar et al 2014). Translocation of this species has increased remarkably, and its range is expanding continuously.…”

“…We report here a translocation and new geographical record for this species in southern Iran. The new record is located in the Mond River drainage in southern Iran, 600 and 730 km from previous recorded locations for this species (Khaefi et al 2014;Roozbhfar et al 2014).…”

“…Since then, more than 33 fish species have been introduced or translocated and some of them have become well established in several water bodies in Iran (Coad 1996;Esmaeili et al 2007Esmaeili et al , 2014; Khaefi et al 2014).…”

“…Based on recent studies, the number of exotic species is increasing drastically, and the Redbelly Tilapia, Coptodon zillii (Gervais, 1848), is one of these recently introduced fish (Khaefi et al 2014;Roozbhfar et al 2014). Coptodon zillii is a cichlid fish native to Africa, which has been widely introduced worldwide in America, Europe, Australia, and Asia; it is currently found in more than 56 countries either as native or introduced fish (http://www.fishbase.org).…”