Original description as Tilapia nilotica rukwaensis:
ZooBank:0A4AEA2A-8F20-4889-B301-09CFD8FB3D4B.
- Hilgendorf, F.M. & Pappenheim, P. 1903. "Über die Fischfauna des Rukwa-Sees". Sitzungsberichte der Gesellschaft naturforschender Freunde in Berlin. 259-271 (crc01400)
Conservation: Oreochromis rukwaensis is evaluated by the international union for the conservation of nature in the iucn red list of threatened species as (VU) vulnerable (2006).