[3] It is native to fresh and brackish water in West and Central Africa,[3] but has been introduced to other regions where it is considered invasive.

[4] Spotted tilapia have high fecundity, simple food requirements and extensive tolerance of environmental variables such as water temperature, salinity, and pollution.

[8] After spawning, the females take care of all embryo tending while males stay about 2 to 3 m (6.6–9.8 ft) away and remain mostly inactive except for an occasional feeding or chasing away of predators.

This causes a dramatic change in parental role as the male becomes active and the female begins to spend more time away from the young, guarding ahead of the school by chasing away predators.

[6] This biparental behaviour could help explain why black tilapia are able to live in many different habitats and become dominant over other fish populations in the same area.

One main problem with spotted tilapia in their introduced range is that they tend to become the dominant fish in many lakes, rivers and canals.

First it is thought that all tilapia populations derived from the importation of small numbers of individuals for the freshwater aquarium industry from Singapore or Indonesia.

[10] NSW fisheries are closely monitoring the populations of spotted tilapia and heavy fines of up to AU$11,000 apply for being in possession or caught buying or selling this species.

[10] The specific name honours the English writer and explorer Mary Henrietta Kingsley (1862-1900), who had gained possession of the type of this cichlid .