Tilapia (Tilapia), commonly known as the African carp, belongs to the perch, perch-shaped suborder, Cichlidae, tilapia genus Tilapia (also known as the Cichlidae, Cichlidae). The genus is native to Africa, there are more than 600 species, currently being cultured 15 species. Lophiops is a group of small and medium-sized fish, its appearance, individual size is somewhat similar to crucian carp, fins thorny like Mandarin fish. It is a widely saline fish that can survive in both sea and fresh water; it is resistant to low oxygen and generally inhabits the lower layer of water, but changes the layer of water with the change of water temperature or the size of the fish.

Tilapia has a wide range of diet, mostly plant-based omnivorous, very poor food, large intake; rapid growth, especially in the juvenile period of faster growth. The growth of tilapia has a close relationship with the temperature, the growth temperature of 16 ~ 38 ℃, the appropriate temperature 22 ~ 35 ℃.

Tilapia was first introduced to Taiwan Province of China from Singapore in 1946 by Wu Zhenhui and Guo Qizhi, and in honor of these two people, it was first called "Wu Kuo Fish". 1957 was introduced to the mainland of China from Vietnam, and also known as "Vietnam Fish". Because it is native to Africa, the shape of the local carp, so some people call it "African carp".

There are two kinds of tilapia introduced into Yingshan Hot Springs in Hubei: one is called Mozambique tilapia, which was received in Yingshan Hot Springs from Jingshan County in 1972; the other is called Nile tilapia, which was introduced in 1979 by the Hubei Provincial Institute of Fisheries. They have all lived well after settling down.

Dr. Modadugu Vijay Gupta of India, who developed and disseminated the inexpensive technology of clear-water aquaculture (using tilapia), won the 2005 World Food Prize.