Original description:
- Loiselle, Paul V. 1979. "On dither fish". Freshwater and Marine Aquarium (FAMA). 2(11):23-27 (crc05435)
Type species: Tilapia mariae Boulenger, 1899 (original designation).
Described species included (6):
valid: 2 synonym: 4- Tilapia cabrae Boulenger, 1899 (valid)
- Tilapia mariae Boulenger, 1899 (valid)
- Tilapia dubia Lönnberg, 1904 (synonym)
- Tilapia haugi Pellegrin , 1911 (synonym)
- Tilapia meeki Pellegrin, 1911 (synonym)
- Tilapia ngomoensis Pellegrin, 1913 (synonym)