Oreochromis aureus (Steindachner, 1864) [I]—Blue tilapia; Mesht azrak

Taxonomy. Original description: Chromis aureus Steindachner, 1864: 229, pl. 8, fig. 5 [locality unknown; no types known].—Syrian synonyms: Tilapia aurea (Steindachner, 1864) .—Revisions: Trewavas (1965: 265) as Tilapia aurea; Trewavas (1982: 12).—Illustration: Steindachner (1864: 229, pl. 8, fig. 5).

Status in Syria. According to Coad (1996), this species recorded from Syria by F. Krupp (1988) reports capture of a specimen from the Khabour River in Syria, presumably an escape from a fish farm in the basin of this tributary of the Euphrates River. Subsequently recorded Ali (2003); Saad et al. (2006); Saad (2010).—Syrian material: MSL.

Distribution and habitat. Distribution in Syria: Khabour River.—Distribution in River Basin: 1-Dajleh & Khabour, 2-Euphrates & Aleppo, 3-Desert, 4-Orontes, 5-Barada & Awaj, 6-Coastal, 7-Al-Yarmouk.—General distribution: Middle East and Africa. Introduced widely elsewhere.—Distribution in Ecoregion: 436-Coastal Levant, 437-Orontes, 438- Jordan River, 440-Arabian Interior, 441-Lower Tigris & Euphrates, 442-Upper Tigris & Euphrates.—Habitat: This species inhabits a very wide range of flowing water habitats, from fast-flowing headwaters and reservoirs to polluted canals and large lowland rivers. It is the most environmentally tolerant of all tilapia species, tolerating lack of oxygen, pollution, salinity, etc. Low water temperatures (below 10–13 oC) limit its occurrence. Freshwater, brackish.

Economic importance. Commercially important.

Reasons of introduction. Aquaculture.

Conservation. Not relevant (introduced species).