What is the scientific name of tilapia fish?

The term "tilapia" actually refers to a group of several species of freshwater fish rather than a single species, and various tilapia species belong to the cichlid family.

Some commonly cultivated tilapia species include:

1. Nile Tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus): One of the most widely farmed tilapia species, native to Africa but introduced to many other regions.
2. Blue Tilapia (Oreochromis aureus): Native to North Africa but introduced to various parts of the world for aquaculture.
3. Mozambique Tilapia (Oreochromis mossambicus): Native to Southeast Africa and also commonly raised in aquaculture.
4. Tilapia species within the genus Tilapia: There are several other species within the Tilapia genus that are also commonly referred to as tilapia.

When people use the term "tilapia" without specifying a particular species, they often mean one of the commonly cultivated species mentioned above.