Cichla is a genus

Genus

In biology, a genus is a low-level taxonomic rank used in the biological classification of living and fossil organisms, which is an example of definition by genus and differentia...

 of fifteen described species

Species

In biology, a species is one of the basic units of biological classification and a taxonomic rank. A species is often defined as a group of organisms capable of interbreeding and producing fertile offspring. While in many cases this definition is adequate, more precise or differing measures are...

 of fish from the family Cichlidae. Kullander & Ferreira (2006) described nine species in a recent paper http://www.practicalfishkeeping.co.uk/pfk/pages/item.php?news=831 and suggest the genus may include 5-15 other species, yet to be described. The genus includes several species valued as game fish, collectively known as peacock bass

Peacock Bass

Peacock bass is the common name in English for a group of closely related species of tropical, freshwater fish of the genus Cichla, native to the Amazon River basin of South America. They also inhabit the waters of Colombia, the Dominican Republic, Panama, Venezuela and parts of the United States,...

, and is also of interest to cichlid keeping aquarists. Cichla species are amongst the largest cichlids, with one species, (C. temensis), growing to over 90 cm (3 feet).

Species

• Cichla intermedia Machado-Allison, 1971
• Cichla jariina Kullander
  Sven O. Kullander
  Sven Oscar Kullander is a Swedish biologist specialised in ichthyology.He primarily researches cichlids – notably the genus Apistogramma and the Cichlasoma-complex – and other tropical fresh water fishes....
  
   & Ferreira, 2006
• Cichla kelberi Kullander & Ferreira, 2006
• Cichla melaniae Kullander & Ferreira, 2006
• Cichla mirianae Kullander & Ferreira, 2006
• Cichla monoculus
  Cichla monoculus
  Cichla monoculus, sometimes known as the tucanare peacock bass , is a very large species of cichlid, and a prized game fish. It is native to the Amazon Basin in South America, but has also been introduced to regions outside its natural range . It reaches in length and in weight....
  
  Spix & Agassiz, 1831
• Cichla nigromaculata Jardine & Schomburgk, 1843
• Cichla ocellaris
  Cichla ocellaris
  Cichla ocellaris, sometimes known as the butterfly peacock bass , is a very large species of cichlid from South America, and a prized game fish. It reaches in length. It is native to the Marowijne and Essequibo drainages in the Guianas, and the Branco River in Brazil...
  
  Bloch & Schneider, 1801
• Cichla orinocensis
  Cichla orinocensis
  Cichla orinocensis, sometimes known as the Orinoco peacock bass , is a very large species of cichlid. It is native to the Rio Negro and Orinoco river basins in northern South America, and reaches about in length....
  
  Humboldt in Humboldt and Valenciennes, 1821
• Cichla pinima Kullander & Ferreira, 2006
• Cichla piquiti Kullander & Ferreira, 2006
• Cichla pleiozona Kullander & Ferreira, 2006
• Cichla temensis
  Cichla temensis
  Cichla temensis, sometimes known as the speckled pavon or speckled peacock bass , is a very large South American cichlid and a prized game fish...
  
  Humboldt in Humboldt and Valenciennes, 1821
• Cichla thyrorus Kullander & Ferreira, 2006
• Cichla vazzoleri Kullander & Ferreira, 2006