Drawing a Tilapia Fish

Tilapia is the name of a group of Cichlid fish often found in the warm fresh waters of Africa. Though the tilapia has some physical resemblance to the sun fish, it is easy to identify a tilapia due to its lateral line and long dorsal fins with bands on the caudal fins of most species.
The tilapia is also known for having scales almost allover it's body.

Habitat

Tilapia are mostly freshwater fish often found in shallow streams, rivers, or lakes in Africa where the water is a little warmer. You are less likely to see tilapia is salty water.

Locomotion

Body shape
The tilapia streamlined body makes it swim easily through the water without creating drag.

Tail fin
It makes use of it's caudal fin to propel itself forward in water, steer itself while changing it's direction and to maintain balance it in water ...

Dorsal fins
The dorsal fins is a balancing mechanism that prevents the fish against rolling, it also assist the fish with sudden turns and stops.

Pectoral fins
located on each side of the fish for movement up and down.

Scale and unscaled fish

Tilapia belongs to the group of fish that has scales, this small hard plates that grows out of the fish's skin serves as armor for the fish, protecting it against some predators. Fish that don't have scales do not have the protection provided by the scales. In place of the scales some fish body are coated with bitter-smelly-slime which blocks out disease and taste disgusting to a predator.

The reflective nature of the fish scales also serves as a kind of effective camouflage. For none scale fish, they often have a variety of colours that send warnings or mimics a poisonous creature.

The scales also help the fish glide effortlessly in the water. The fish without scale has mucus covered body which also makes swimming free from friction.

Availability

The tilapia fish is one of the mostly consumed seafood in many parts of the world though in AkwaIbom State in particular, the tilapia fish is not part of our regular food.
People in my area consume more cat fish and Mackerel.

Where I saw Tilapia fish

I saw tilapia fish at a friend's place where he sales frozen seafoods, the fish was not a life, he was selling it to one of his clients. You can also see tilapia in the frozen food section of most supermarket

importance and nutritional value

When looking at the tilapia's usefulness to man, it should be noted that the Tilapia fish has proved to be one of the most efficient biocontrol agent against mosquito and mosquito born diseases. Introducing the tilapia fish in ponds reduces mosquito as the tilapia feeds on mosquito larvae.

Another importance is the fact that the tilapia fish is a great source of protein and heart friendly Omega oils.

how I like my tilapia

Tilapia has a lot of bones, so I don't really like its soup because of the bones but prefer it fried or marinated and barbecued, this way I can take my time and pick out all the bones.

Me and My Tilapia

How I draw my Tilapia

To draw the Tilapia Fish, I made use of a piece of plain paper (A4) as my canvas.

• A4 plain paper
• A Pencil
• An Eraser
• The plantain tree
• Nokia C30 (Camera)

Material and tools

Step 1

I got the paper ready with my user name.

Step 2

Started drawing from the fish's mouth, then the head and body down to its tail fin. At this point it looked more like a sun fish without it's spikes, but the drawing was just started.

Step 3

I added the fins to the drawing. With the addition of other fins to the drawing it started looking more like a fish

Step 4

I Worked on the eyes as it was too small in proportion to its body and the fins needed some extra strokes.

Step 5

I added the lateral line that ran from the head almost to the tail and then I went in for the process of adding scales to the fish,

Step 5

This is My Tilapia

I will love to issue an invitation to the following
@gentlesun @imaphill @kesybliss


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