Original description as Chromis spilurus:
ZooBank:BF33BCB1-51A3-4315-8177-033DECE4B931.
- Günther, Albert C. L. G. 1894. "Report on the collection of reptiles and fishes made by Dr. J. W. Gregory, during his expedition to Mount Kenia". Proceedings of the Zoological Society of London. 1894(1):84-91 (crc00708)
Synonyms (2):
- Tilapia nyirica Lönnberg, 1911, with type locality at Guaso Nyiri below Chanler Falls, Kenya. Determiner: Trewavas & Teugels, 1991
- Paratilapia arnoldi Gilchrist & Thompson, 1917, with type locality at Mazoe River, Rhodesia, South Africa. Determiner: Skelton & Teugels, 1991
- Tilapia browni Nichols, 1923, with type locality at Ramis River near Ganame, Harar Province, Ethiopia, East Africa. Determiner: Trewavas & Teugels, 1991
- Oreochromis danconai Di Caporiacco, 1948, with type locality at Giuba (Juba), Ethiopia. Determiner: Trewavas & Teugels, 1991
Sub-species:
Conservation: Oreochromis spilurus is not evaluated by the international union for the conservation of nature in the iucn red list of threatened species.