Original description:
- Smith, Andrew. 1838. "Pisces. In: Illustrations of the zoology of South Africa; consisting chiefly of figures and descriptions of the objects of natural history collected during an expedition into the interior of South Africa in 1834-36". Illustrations of the zoology of South Africa (crc00200)
Type species: Tilapia sparrmanii Smith, 1840 (original designation).
Described species included (12):
valid: 7 synonym: 5- Tilapia sparrmanii Smith, 1840 (valid)
- Chromys moffatii Castelnau , 1861 (synonym)
- Chromis ovalis Steindachner, 1866 (synonym)
- Chromis busumanus Günther, 1903 (valid)
- Tilapia fouloni Boulenger, 1905 (synonym)
- Tilapia brevimanus Boulenger, 1911 (valid)
- Tilapia savagei Fowler, 1919 (synonym)
- Tilapia deschauenseei Fowler, 1931 (synonym)
- Tilapia guinasana Trewavas, 1936 (valid)
- Pelmatochromis ruweti Poll & Thys Van Den Audenaerde, 1965 (valid)
- Tilapia baloni Trewavas & Stewart, 1975 (valid)
- Tilapia pra Dunz & Schliewen, 2010 (valid)