---
title: "Blackchin Tilapia"
description: "Sarotherodon melanotheron — Fish. The blackchin tilapia (Sarotherodon melanotheron), formerly Tilapia melanotheron, T."
canonical: https://animalchecklist.com/animal/blackchin-tilapia
last_updated: 2026-09-20
---

# Blackchin Tilapia

> Sarotherodon melanotheron — Fish. The blackchin tilapia (Sarotherodon melanotheron), formerly Tilapia melanotheron, T.

- Scientific name: *Sarotherodon melanotheron*
- Category: `fish` (Fish)
- Habitats: `freshwater` (Lakes & rivers)
- iNaturalist observations: 1485
- Wikidata: [Q3759688](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q3759688)
- iNaturalist taxon: [230431](https://www.inaturalist.org/taxa/230431)

## Names

- en: Blackchin Tilapia
- de: Schwarzkehlmaulbrüter

## Countries with the most observations

US (1017), TH (193), TW (8), GM (7), PH (7), SN (7), CI (5), NG (5), GH (4), CM (3)

## Summary

The blackchin tilapia (Sarotherodon melanotheron), formerly Tilapia melanotheron, T. heudelotii and T. leonensis, is a species of cichlid native to coastal west Africa. It is a paternal mouthbrooder which has been introduced to Asia and North America.
In the Philippines, it is also informally called gloria or tilapiang arroyo after former Philippine President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo because of its small size and mole-like dark pigmentation under its lower jaw, resembling that of the short stature and mole on the former president's left cheek.

Text: Wikipedia (en), CC BY-SA 4.0 — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blackchin_tilapia

## Photo

![Blackchin Tilapia](https://animalchecklist.com/img/animals/blackchin-tilapia/medium.jpg)

Photo: Светлана Царахова · CC0 · inaturalist — https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/148814157

## Machine access

`GET https://animalchecklist.com/api/v1/animals/blackchin-tilapia?lang=en` — see [openapi.json](https://animalchecklist.com/openapi.json).