What is tilapia?

Tilapia is a general name for the type of tropical fenced fish that come from Africa and some countries in the Middle East, such as Israel and Jordan. It is a freshwater fish whose natural habitat includes shallow lakes, rivers, streams and ponds. It belongs to the family of fish cichlid, has an oval shape, a thin body and a long dorsal fin. The strip is placed on anal and pelvic fins and is part of the dorsal fin densely spine. Many species have vertical bars that come on their sides.

There are nearly 100 species of cichlids family, which are given by the common name of tilapie. The name is actually the latinized version of thiame , the word Bant of South Africa, which means "fish". The legend gave it another name, the fish of St. Peter. According to tradition, it is the fish that Jesus served for crowds. Several species of tilapia are still inhabited by the sea of ​​Galilee.

Although there are many varieties, tilapia shares several general characteristics. All types are intolerant of cold temperatures inOdy. In addition, all pairs of forms are, all nest builders and usually both parents defend eggs and fry. Some species do not run in the lower soil or rocks, but they are oral mbrooders, instead it carries eggs and fry in the mouth. The species eats a number of food organisms, from the distribution of organic matter to larvae fish and is considered a filter feeder because it can harvest plankton from the water.

For thousands of years, tilapia is of main importance as a source of food. The culture and agriculture of Tilapia in ornamental ponds are depicted on the wall of the Egyptian tombs, which is assumed to be more than 4,000 years old. Tilapia remained fishing in Africa and in the Middle East until the 1940s and 1950s, when it began to introduce itself as a source of aquaculture to Asia, South America and the United States. Today, tilapia is a global industry and is considered one of the most important fish in aquaculture.

consumers appreciated fish for their mild taste, solid meat and aliveIny. All species eat mainly vegetarian food, so they naturally have a very low level of mercury. Research has shown that this species may not be as rich in omega-3 fatty acids as some other fish such as salmon are. It is generally recommended that the individual integrate into his diet also to eat other fish.