Tilapia baloni Trewavas & Stewart 1975

Description: body ovoid and moderately deep; caudal peduncle relatively long; caudal fin round to truncate (Ref. 52307).Coloration: based on freshly caught but dead specimens: snout, front of head and back dark blue-gray to nearly black in adult males; flanks greenish with 9-10 vertical bars; scales on lower parts of flanks and caudal peduncle with a dark spot at their base; in large males, portions of opercles and flanks directly behind, as well parts of breast, purple; dorsal fin dusky, but in males soft section whitish to rosy with some dark spots (sometimes dusky in females); anal, pelvic and caudal fins dusky, the latter with dark stripes between its rays (Ref. 52307).

Probably pair-bonding, open substratum spawner, with both parents guarding their brood (Ref. 52307).

fisheries:

Tilapia baloni is a species of cichlid native to the Congo River basin of western Zambia. It is named after Polish-Canadian ichthyologist Eugene K. Balon.