Hybrid tilapia

Hybrid tilapias are crosses between different species of Oreochromis tilapias developed for aquaculture, either through natural hybridization, or more often artificially, in an effort to improve yields through improving various qualities of the fish, such as growth and hardiness. Hybrids are often divided into two varieties: gray tilapia and red tilapia, which are assigned variable binomial names based on the author, though the red hybrid is more often distinguished due to its distinct coloration.

Tilapia is an extremely important aquacultured resource; in 2022, worldwide production of tilapia (reported as Oreochromis niloticus) reached five million t (4,900,000 long tons; 5,500,000 short tons) produced from aquaculture and three hundred thousand t (300,000 long tons; 330,000 short tons) captured, ranking 5th among all aquacultured species produced behind whiteleg shrimp, cupped oysters, grass carp, and silver carp.