Morphometric Variations of Nile Tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) (Linnaeus, 1758) (Perciformes, Cichlidae) Collected from Three Rift Valley Lakes in Ethiopia

The pattern of morphometric differentiation among three populations Tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) sited in Koka, Ziway, and Langano lakes the Ethiopian rift valley was examined. Morphometric examined, compared quantified by use twelve different body measurements 391 specimens to generate baseline information for conservation product improvement plans. result revealed that comparisons mean values studied tilapia statistically significant differences (P<0.05). Fulton’s condition factor (K) Oreochromi niloticus samples collected from Lakes 1.48, 1.2, 0.66, respectively. Discriminant Function Analysis performed on seven variables led a correct classification 90.5 % cases. Differences observed between this study indicated there is important variation populations. Plotting two canonical discriminant functions separated Lake population other two.