Abstract
Between 1948 and 1975, 3 species Oreochromis niloticus, O. leucostictus and O. macrochir were introduced into the Ruzizi plain, the natural distribution area of the subspecies Oreochromis niloticus edouardianus. Hybridization is observed between these species. The Mann-Whitney U test revealed significant differences between O. niloticus and its hybrids for the number of brachiospines; length of the last dorsal soft ray; and length of the lower jaw; O. macrochir differs from its hybrids in the number of branchiospines and length of the lower jaw; and O. leucostictus differs from its hybrids in the number of scales in the longitudinal line, the upper lateral line, the number of gill rakers, the length of the last dorsal soft ray, the length of the snout and the diameter of the eye. These characteristics are not sufficient to distinguish these three species from their hybrids without recourse to quality characteristics.
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