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

Abstract

This paper is the first record of the exotic cichlid, the redbelly tilapia, Tilapia zillii (Gervais, 1848), from natural freshwater bodies of Iran, which has most likely been deliberately released to enhance fish production. The new records extend the geographical distribution range of this exotic fish.