Cichlids are
fishFish are a paraphyletic group of organisms that consist of all gill-bearing aquatic vertebrate animals that lack limbs with digits. Included in this definition are the living hagfish, lampreys, and cartilaginous and bony fish, as well as various extinct related groups...
es from the
familyIn biological classification, family is* a taxonomic rank. Other well-known ranks are life, domain, kingdom, phylum, class, order, genus, and species, with family fitting between order and genus. As for the other well-known ranks, there is the option of an immediately lower rank, indicated by the...
Cichlidae in the order
PerciformesThe Perciformes, also called the Percomorphi or Acanthopteri, is one of the largest orders of vertebrates, containing about 40% of all bony fish. Perciformes means perch-like. They belong to the class of ray-finned fish and comprise over 7,000 species found in almost all aquatic environments...
. Cichlids are members of a group known as the
LabroideiLabroidei is a suborder of the Perciformes, the largest order of fish. The suborder includes the wrasses, cichlids and parrotfish....
along with the wrasses (Labridae), damselfish (
PomacentridaePomacentridae are a family of perciform fish, comprising the damselfishes and clownfishes. They are primarily marine, while a few species inhabit freshwater and brackish environments . They are noted for their hardy constitutions and territoriality...
), and surfperches (
EmbiotocidaeThe surfperches are a family, Embiotocidae, of perciform fishes. They are found in coastal waters of the northern Pacific and grow up to 45 cm long....
). This family is both large and diverse. At least 1,300
speciesIn 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...
have been
scientifically describedBinomial nomenclature is a formal system of naming species of living things by giving each a name composed of two parts, both of which use Latin grammatical forms, although they can be based on words from other languages...
, making it one of the largest
vertebrateVertebrates are animals that are members of the subphylum Vertebrata . Vertebrates are the largest group of chordates, with currently about 58,000 species described. Vertebrates include the jawless fishes, bony fishes, sharks and rays, amphibians, reptiles, mammals, and birds...
families. New species are discovered annually, and many species remain
undescribedIn taxonomy, an undescribed taxon is a taxon that has been discovered, but not yet formally described and named. The various Nomenclature Codes specify the requirements for a new taxon to be validly described and named. Until such a description has been published, the taxon has no formal or...
. The actual number of species is therefore unknown, with estimates varying between 1,300 and 3,000.
Description
Cichlids span a wide range of body sizes, from species as small as 2.5 centimetre (0.984251968503937 in) in length (e.g., female
Neolamprologus multifasciatusNeolamprologus multifasciatus is one of the small shell-dwelling cichlids endemic to Lake Tanganyika. The male reaches five centimeters in length, and the female only 2.5 cm. This makes them one of the smallest cichlid species in the world. Its natural habitat is the neothauma shell beds of...
) to much larger species approaching 1 metres (3.3 ft) in length (e.g.
Boulengerochromis and
CichlaCichla is a genus of fifteen described species of fish from the family Cichlidae. Kullander & Ferreira described nine species in a recent paper 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...
). As a group, cichlids exhibit a similar diversity of body shapes, ranging from strongly laterally compressed species (such as
AltolamprologusAltolamprologus is a small genus of pseudocrenilabrine cichlids endemic to Lake Tanganyika in eastern Africa. They inhabit areas of the lake with large amounts of rock, most frequently in water two to ten metres in depth. Two formally described species comprise this genus, with perhaps one dwarf A....
,
PterophyllumPterophyllum is a small genus of freshwater fish from the family Cichlidae known to most aquarists as "Angelfish". All Pterophyllum species originate from the Amazon River, Orinoco River and Essequibo River basins in tropical South America...
, and
Symphysodon) to species that are cylindrical and highly elongate (such as
JulidochromisJulidochromis is a genus of cichlids in the subfamily Pseudocrenilabrinae. They are commonly called julies and are endemic to Lake Tanganyika in eastern Africa. This genus includes at least 5 species, each with a number of subspecies and local variants of uncertain taxonomic status...
,
TeleogrammaTeleogramma is an African genus of cichlids with only four species. These dark and slender fishes barely reaches in length, and are restricted to rapids in the Congo River in DR Congo/Congo Brazzaville....
,
TeleocichlaTeleocichla is a small genus of seven cichlid formally described species and several undescribed species, endemic to the Amazon River Basin in South America. All species are rheophilic, and highly elongated in shape...
,
CrenicichlaCrenicichla is a genus of the cichlids family ; it contains the pike cichlids. It is the most speciose genus of South American cichlids, including approximately 115 species as of 2009; one or two species are on average described as new each year...
, and
GobiocichlaGobiocichla is a small genus of cichlids with only two species.These species are Gobiocichla wonderi and Gobiocichla ethelwynnae.-References:* http://www.cichlid-forum.com/articles/gobio_wonderi_pt1.php...
). Generally, however, cichlids tend to be of medium size, ovate in shape and slightly laterally compressed, and generally similar to the North American
sunfishesThe sunfishes are a family of freshwater ray-finned fish belonging to the order Perciformes. The type genus is Centrarchus . The family's 27 species includes many fishes familiar to North Americans, including the rock bass, largemouth bass, bluegill, pumpkinseed, and crappies...
in morphology, behavior, and ecology.
Many cichlids, particularly
tilapiaTilapia , is the common name for nearly a hundred species of cichlid fish from the tilapiine cichlid tribe. Tilapia inhabit a variety of fresh water habitats, including shallow streams, ponds, rivers and lakes. Historically, they have been of major importance in artisan fishing in Africa and the...
, are important food fishes, while others are valued game fish (e.g.
CichlaCichla is a genus of fifteen described species of fish from the family Cichlidae. Kullander & Ferreira described nine species in a recent paper 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...
species). The family also includes many familiar
aquariumAn aquarium is a vivarium consisting of at least one transparent side in which water-dwelling plants or animals are kept. Fishkeepers use aquaria to keep fish, invertebrates, amphibians, marine mammals, turtles, and aquatic plants...
fish, including the angelfish,
oscarsAstronotus ocellatus is a species of fish from the cichlid family known under a variety of common names, including oscar, tiger oscar, velvet cichlid, or marble cichlid. In South America, where the species naturally resides, A. ocellatus specimens are often found for sale as a food fish in the...
, and discus. Cichlids have the largest number of
endangered speciesAn endangered species is a population of organisms which is at risk of becoming extinct because it is either few in numbers, or threatened by changing environmental or predation parameters...
among
vertebrateVertebrates are animals that are members of the subphylum Vertebrata . Vertebrates are the largest group of chordates, with currently about 58,000 species described. Vertebrates include the jawless fishes, bony fishes, sharks and rays, amphibians, reptiles, mammals, and birds...
families, most in the
haplochromineThe haplochromine cichlids are a tribe of cichlids in subfamily Pseudocrenilabrinae called Haplochromini. This group includes the type genus plus a number of closely related genera such as Aulonocara, Astatotilapia, and Chilotilapia. They are endemic to eastern and southern Africa...
group. Cichlids are particularly well known for having
evolved rapidlyIn evolutionary biology, adaptive radiation is the evolution of ecological and phenotypic diversity within a rapidly multiplying lineage. Starting with a recent single ancestor, this process results in the speciation and phenotypic adaptation of an array of species exhibiting different...
into a large number of
closely related but morphologically diverse speciesIn evolutionary biology, a species flock is a diverse, primarily monophyletic, group of closely related species in an isolated area.A species flock may arise when a species penetrates a new geographical area and diversifies to occupy a variety of ecological niches; this process is known as...
within large lakes, particularly
TanganyikaLake Tanganyika is an African Great Lake. It is estimated to be the second largest freshwater lake in the world by volume, and the second deepest, after Lake Baikal in Siberia; it is also the world's longest freshwater lake...
,
VictoriaLake Victoria is one of the African Great Lakes. The lake was named for Queen Victoria of the United Kingdom, by John Hanning Speke, the first European to discover this lake....
,
MalawiLake Malawi , is an African Great Lake and the southernmost lake in the Great Rift Valley system of East Africa. This lake, the third largest in Africa and the eighth largest lake in the world, is located between Malawi, Mozambique, and Tanzania...
, and
EdwardLake Edward or Edward Nyanza is the smallest of the African Great Lakes. It is located in the western Great Rift Valley, on the border between the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Uganda, with its northern shore a few kilometres south of the Equator...
. Their diversity in the African Great Lakes is important for the study of
speciationSpeciation is the evolutionary process by which new biological species arise. The biologist Orator F. Cook seems to have been the first to coin the term 'speciation' for the splitting of lineages or 'cladogenesis,' as opposed to 'anagenesis' or 'phyletic evolution' occurring within lineages...
in evolution. Many cichlids that have been
introducedAn introduced species — or neozoon, alien, exotic, non-indigenous, or non-native species, or simply an introduction, is a species living outside its indigenous or native distributional range, and has arrived in an ecosystem or plant community by human activity, either deliberate or accidental...
into waters outside of their natural range have become nuisances, such as
tilapiaTilapia , is the common name for nearly a hundred species of cichlid fish from the tilapiine cichlid tribe. Tilapia inhabit a variety of fresh water habitats, including shallow streams, ponds, rivers and lakes. Historically, they have been of major importance in artisan fishing in Africa and the...
in the southern United States.
Anatomy and appearance
Cichlids share a single key trait: the fusion of the lower
pharyngeal bonesPharyngeal teeth are teeth in the pharyngeal arch of the throat of cyprinids, suckers, and a number of other fish species lacking teeth.Popular aquarium fish such as goldfish and loaches have these structures. Members of the Botia genus such as clown loaches are known to make distinctive clicking...
into a single tooth-bearing structure. A complex set of muscles allows the upper and lower pharyngeal bones to be used as a second set of jaws for processing food, allowing a division of labor between the "true jaws" (
mandibleThe mandible pronunciation or inferior maxillary bone forms the lower jaw and holds the lower teeth in place...
s) and the "
pharyngeal jawsPharyngeal jaws are a "second set" of jaws contained within an animal's throat, or pharynx, distinct from the primary jaws. They are believed to have originated as modified gill arches, in much the same way as oral jaws....
". Cichlids are efficient feeders that capture and process a very wide variety of food items. This is assumed to be one reason why they are so diverse. Cichlids vary in body shape, ranging from compressed and disc-shaped (such as
Symphysodon), to triangular (such as
PterophyllumPterophyllum is a small genus of freshwater fish from the family Cichlidae known to most aquarists as "Angelfish". All Pterophyllum species originate from the Amazon River, Orinoco River and Essequibo River basins in tropical South America...
), to elongate and cylindrical (such as
CrenicichlaCrenicichla is a genus of the cichlids family ; it contains the pike cichlids. It is the most speciose genus of South American cichlids, including approximately 115 species as of 2009; one or two species are on average described as new each year...
).
The features that distinguish them from the other Labroidei include:
- A single nostril on each side of the forehead, instead of two.
- No bony shelf below the orbit of the eye.
- Division of the lateral line
The lateral line is a sense organ in aquatic organisms , used to detect movement and vibration in the surrounding water. Lateral lines are usually visible as faint lines running lengthwise down each side, from the vicinity of the gill covers to the base of the tail...
organ into two sections, one on the upper half of the flank and a second along the midline of the flank from about halfway along the body to the base of the tail (except for genera TeleogrammaTeleogramma is an African genus of cichlids with only four species. These dark and slender fishes barely reaches in length, and are restricted to rapids in the Congo River in DR Congo/Congo Brazzaville....
and GobiocichlaGobiocichla is a small genus of cichlids with only two species.These species are Gobiocichla wonderi and Gobiocichla ethelwynnae.-References:* http://www.cichlid-forum.com/articles/gobio_wonderi_pt1.php...
).
- A distinctively shaped otolith
An otolith, , also called statoconium or otoconium is a structure in the saccule or utricle of the inner ear, specifically in the vestibular labyrinth of vertebrates. The saccule and utricle, in turn, together make the otolith organs. They are sensitive to gravity and linear acceleration...
.
- The small intestine
The small intestine is the part of the gastrointestinal tract following the stomach and followed by the large intestine, and is where much of the digestion and absorption of food takes place. In invertebrates such as worms, the terms "gastrointestinal tract" and "large intestine" are often used to...
's left-side exit from the stomachThe stomach is a muscular, hollow, dilated part of the alimentary canal which functions as an important organ of the digestive tract in some animals, including vertebrates, echinoderms, insects , and molluscs. It is involved in the second phase of digestion, following mastication .The stomach is...
instead of its right side as in other Labroidei.
Taxonomy
KullanderSven 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....
(1998) recognizes eight subfamilies of cichlids: the
AstronotinaeAstronotinae is a subfamily of cichlids from South America, where they are found in the Amazon, Orinoco, Paraná and Paraguay river basins, and various rivers in the Guianas. The subfamily includes three genera, each with two species....
, CichlasomatinaeCichlasomatinae is a subfamily of cichlid fishes. It includes all ciclids native to islands in the Caribbean , USA , Mexico and Central America, and many of the cichlids from South America...
, CichlinaeCichlinae is a subfamily of South American fishes in the cichlid family. They are predatory and relatively elongated in shape. Of the three genera in the subfamily, some species of Cichla reach almost in length, making them by far the largest cichlids of the Americas, and among the largest...
, EtroplinaeEtroplinae is a subfamily in the cichlid family of fishes. The subfamily includes two genera: Etroplus, which are the only cichlids native to India and Sri Lanka, and Paretroplus from Madagascar .-References: : Molecular phylogeny and biogeography of the Malagasy and South Asian...
, GeophaginaeGeophaginae is a subfamily of cichlid fishes from South America, where they are found as far west as the Andes and as far south as northern Argentina...
, Heterochromidinae, PseudocrenilabrinaeThe Pseudocrenilabrinae is a subfamily in the cichlid family of fishes to which, according to a study from 2004, includes all the Middle Eastern and African cichlids with the exception of the unusual Heterochromis multidens and the Malagasy species. Previous authors recognized additional African...
, and
RetroculinaeRetroculus is a fish genus from the cichlid family. It is the only member of the Retroculinae subfamily. Of the three described species, two are native to rivers in southeastern Amazon Basin in Brazil, while the final is native to rivers in Amapá and French Guiana...
. Cichlid taxonomy is still debated, and classification of
generaGenera is a commercial operating system and development environment for Lisp machines developed by Symbolics. It is essentially a fork of an earlier operating system originating on the MIT AI Lab's Lisp machines which Symbolics had used in common with LMI and Texas Instruments...
cannot yet be definitively given. A comprehensive system of assigning
speciesIn 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...
to
monophyleticIn common cladistic usage, a monophyletic group is a taxon which forms a clade, meaning that it contains all the descendants of the possibly hypothetical closest common ancestor of the members of the group. The term is synonymous with the uncommon term holophyly...
genera is still lacking, and there is not complete agreement on what genera should be recognized in this family.
As an example of the classification problems, Kullander placed the
AfricaAfrica is the world's second largest and second most populous continent, after Asia. At about 30.2 million km² including adjacent islands, it covers 6% of the Earth's total surface area and 20.4% of the total land area...
n genus
Heterochromis phylogenetically within neotropical cichlids, although later papers concluded otherwise. Other problems center upon the identity of the putative common ancestor for the
Lake VictoriaLake Victoria is one of the African Great Lakes. The lake was named for Queen Victoria of the United Kingdom, by John Hanning Speke, the first European to discover this lake....
superflock, and the ancestral lineages of
TanganyikanLake Tanganyika is an African Great Lake. It is estimated to be the second largest freshwater lake in the world by volume, and the second deepest, after Lake Baikal in Siberia; it is also the world's longest freshwater lake...
cichlids.
Comparisons between a morphologically-based phylogeny and analyses of gene loci produce differences at the genus level. There remains a consensus that the
Cichlidae as a family is monophyletic.
One problem that transformed cichlid taxonomy is related to
dentitionDentition pertains to the development of teeth and their arrangement in the mouth. In particular, the characteristic arrangement, kind, and number of teeth in a given species at a given age...
, which had been used as a classifying characteristic. In many cichlids, tooth shape changes with age, due to wear, and cannot be relied upon.
Genome sequencingDNA sequencing includes several methods and technologies that are used for determining the order of the nucleotide bases—adenine, guanine, cytosine, and thymine—in a molecule of DNA....
and other technologies transformed cichlid taxonomy.
Range and habitat
Cichlids are the most species-rich non-
OstariophysanOstariophysi is the second-largest superorder of fish. Members of this superorder are called ostariophysians. This diverse group contains almost 8,000 species, about 28% of known fish species in the world and 68% of freshwater species, and are present on all major continents except Antarctica...
family in
freshwaterFresh water is naturally occurring water on the Earth's surface in ice sheets, ice caps, glaciers, bogs, ponds, lakes, rivers and streams, and underground as groundwater in aquifers and underground streams. Fresh water is generally characterized by having low concentrations of dissolved salts and...
s worldwide. They are most diverse in
AfricaAfrica is the world's second largest and second most populous continent, after Asia. At about 30.2 million km² including adjacent islands, it covers 6% of the Earth's total surface area and 20.4% of the total land area...
and
South AmericaSouth America is a continent situated in the Western Hemisphere, mostly in the Southern Hemisphere, with a relatively small portion in the Northern Hemisphere. The continent is also considered a subcontinent of the Americas. It is bordered on the west by the Pacific Ocean and on the north and east...
. It is estimated that Africa alone hosts at least 1,600 species.
Central AmericaCentral America is the central geographic region of the Americas. It is the southernmost, isthmian portion of the North American continent, which connects with South America on the southeast. When considered part of the unified continental model, it is considered a subcontinent...
and
MexicoThe United Mexican States , commonly known as Mexico , is a federal constitutional republic in North America. It is bordered on the north by the United States; on the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; on the southeast by Guatemala, Belize, and the Caribbean Sea; and on the east by the Gulf of...
have approximately 120 species, as far north as the
Rio GrandeThe Rio Grande is a river that flows from southwestern Colorado in the United States to the Gulf of Mexico. Along the way it forms part of the Mexico – United States border. Its length varies as its course changes...
in southern
TexasTexas is the second largest U.S. state by both area and population, and the largest state by area in the contiguous United States.The name, based on the Caddo word "Tejas" meaning "friends" or "allies", was applied by the Spanish to the Caddo themselves and to the region of their settlement in...
.
MadagascarThe Republic of Madagascar is an island country located in the Indian Ocean off the southeastern coast of Africa...
has its own distinctive species (
Oxylapia,
ParatilapiaParatilapia is a genus of cichlids with only two known species. They occur on Madagascar.Phylogenetic analsysis of DNA sequence and morphological data have hitherto been unable to resolve the relationships of the genus to satisfaction...
,
ParetroplusParetroplus is a genus of fishes in the cichlid family, all of which are endemic to lakes and rivers of Madagascar. The vast majority are threatened and restricted to the northwestern part of the island. Only P. polyactis is found in the southern half of Madagascar and only P. polyactis and P....
,
PtychochromisPtychochromis is a genus of fishes from the cichlid family. They are found in rivers and lakes in Madagascar, and a single species can also be seen in brackish water. Most species in this genus are threatened, and P. onilahy is probably extinct. Most reach a length of , but P. grandidieri reaches...
, and
PtychochromoidesPtychochromoides is a genus of fish in the cichlid family from Madagascar. Of the tree described species, two are critically endangered and one was considered extinct until rediscovered in late 2010.-Species:...
), only distantly related to those on the African mainland. Native cichlids are largely absent in
AsiaAsia is the world's largest and most populous continent, located primarily in the eastern and northern hemispheres. It covers 8.7% of the Earth's total surface area and with approximately 3.879 billion people, it hosts 60% of the world's current human population...
, except for nine species in
IsraelThe State of Israel is a parliamentary republic located in the Middle East, along the eastern shore of the Mediterranean Sea...
,
LebanonLebanon , officially the Republic of LebanonRepublic of Lebanon is the most common term used by Lebanese government agencies. The term Lebanese Republic, a literal translation of the official Arabic and French names that is not used in today's world. Arabic is the most common language spoken among...
and
SyriaSyria , officially the Syrian Arab Republic , is a country in Western Asia, bordering Lebanon and the Mediterranean Sea to the West, Turkey to the north, Iraq to the east, Jordan to the south, and Israel to the southwest....
(
Astatotilapia flaviijosephi,
Oreochromis aureusOreochromis aureus is a species of fish in the Cichlidae family. Native to Northern and Western Africa, and the Middle East, through introductions it is now also established elsewhere, including parts of the United States, where it has been declared an invasive species and has caused significant...
,
O. niloticusThe Nile Tilapia, Oreochromis niloticus is a relatively large cichlid fish, which is native to Africa from Egypt south to East and Central Africa, and as far west as Gambia. It is also native to Israel, and numerous introduced populations exist outside its natural range.It is also commercially...
,
Sarotherodon galilaeus ,
Tilapia zillii, and
TristramellaTristramella is a genus of fishes in the Cichlidae family. The four species in this genus are restricted to Israel and Syria, where they are among the relatively few native cichlids .Tristramella intermedia and T...
spp.), one in
IranIran , officially the Islamic Republic of Iran , is a country in Southern and Western Asia. The name "Iran" has been in use natively since the Sassanian era and came into use internationally in 1935, before which the country was known to the Western world as Persia...
(
IranocichlaIranocichla hormuzensis is a species of mouthbrooding fish from the cichlid family. It is the only member of its genus, and reaches a length of about . It is restricted to freshwater and brackish habitats in southern Iran. It is the only species of cichlid native to this country, and among the few...
), and three in
IndiaIndia , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
and
Sri LankaSri Lanka, officially the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka is a country off the southern coast of the Indian subcontinent. Known until 1972 as Ceylon , Sri Lanka is an island surrounded by the Indian Ocean, the Gulf of Mannar and the Palk Strait, and lies in the vicinity of India and the...
(
EtroplusEtroplus is a small genus of cichlids with only three species. They are found in southern India and Sri Lanka, where they are the only native cichlids.Their closest living relatives are Paretroplus from Madagascar...
). If disregarding
Trinidad and TobagoTrinidad and Tobago officially the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago is an archipelagic state in the southern Caribbean, lying just off the coast of northeastern Venezuela and south of Grenada in the Lesser Antilles...
(where the few native cichlids are members of genera that are widespread in the South American mainland), the three species from the genus
NandopsisNandopsis is a small genus of cichlid fishes found in lakes, streams and rivers in Cuba and Hispaniola. If disregarding Trinidad and Tobago , Nandopsis are the only cichlids native to the Antilles.-Species:The genus currently contains three species, although some...
are the only cichlids from the
AntillesThe Antilles islands form the greater part of the West Indies in the Caribbean Sea. The Antilles are divided into two major groups: the "Greater Antilles" to the north and west, including the larger islands of Cuba, Jamaica, Hispaniola , and Puerto Rico; and the smaller "Lesser Antilles" on the...
in the
CaribbeanThe Caribbean is a crescent-shaped group of islands more than 2,000 miles long separating the Gulf of Mexico and the Caribbean Sea, to the west and south, from the Atlantic Ocean, to the east and north...
, specifically
CubaThe Republic of Cuba is an island nation in the Caribbean. The nation of Cuba consists of the main island of Cuba, the Isla de la Juventud, and several archipelagos. Havana is the largest city in Cuba and the country's capital. Santiago de Cuba is the second largest city...
and
HispaniolaHispaniola is a major island in the Caribbean, containing the two sovereign states of the Dominican Republic and Haiti. The island is located between the islands of Cuba to the west and Puerto Rico to the east, within the hurricane belt...
.
EuropeEurope is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
,
AustraliaAustralia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
,
Antarctica, and
North AmericaNorth America is a continent wholly within the Northern Hemisphere and almost wholly within the Western Hemisphere. It is also considered a northern subcontinent of the Americas...
north of the Rio Grande drainage have no native cichlids, although in
FloridaFlorida is a state in the southeastern United States, located on the nation's Atlantic and Gulf coasts. It is bordered to the west by the Gulf of Mexico, to the north by Alabama and Georgia and to the east by the Atlantic Ocean. With a population of 18,801,310 as measured by the 2010 census, it...
, Mexico,
JapanJapan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
and northern
AustraliaAustralia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
feral populations of cichlids have become established as
exoticsAn introduced species — or neozoon, alien, exotic, non-indigenous, or non-native species, or simply an introduction, is a species living outside its indigenous or native distributional range, and has arrived in an ecosystem or plant community by human activity, either deliberate or accidental...
.
Although most cichlids are found at relatively shallow depths, several exceptions do exist. These include species such as
Alticorpus macrocleithrumAlticorpus macrocleithrum is a species of fish in the Cichlidae family. It is endemic to Lake Malawi, where it can be found at depths between . This species differs from all other species of Alticorpus by the presence of a prominent ventral protuberance of the cleithrum on the chest, hence the name...
and
Pallidochromis tokoloshPallidochromis is a ray-finned fish genus in the family Cichlidae. It is monotypic, containing only the species Pallidochromis tokolosh...
down to 150 metres (492.1 ft) below the surface in
Lake MalawiLake Malawi , is an African Great Lake and the southernmost lake in the Great Rift Valley system of East Africa. This lake, the third largest in Africa and the eighth largest lake in the world, is located between Malawi, Mozambique, and Tanzania...
, and the whitish (non-
pigmentedBiological pigments, also known simply as pigments or biochromes are substances produced by living organisms that have a color resulting from selective color absorption. Biological pigments include plant pigments and flower pigments...
) and blind
Lamprologus lethopsLamprologus lethops is a species of cichlid fish from the Congo River in Central Africa, where it is believed to live in depths as great as below the surface. It reaches about in length, is all whitish and blind....
, which is believed to live as deep as 160 metres (524.9 ft) below the surface in the
Congo RiverThe Congo River is a river in Africa, and is the deepest river in the world, with measured depths in excess of . It is the second largest river in the world by volume of water discharged, though it has only one-fifth the volume of the world's largest river, the Amazon...
.
Cichlids are less commonly found in
brackishBrackish water is water that has more salinity than fresh water, but not as much as seawater. It may result from mixing of seawater with fresh water, as in estuaries, or it may occur in brackish fossil aquifers. The word comes from the Middle Dutch root "brak," meaning "salty"...
and
saltwaterSeawater is water from a sea or ocean. On average, seawater in the world's oceans has a salinity of about 3.5% . This means that every kilogram of seawater has approximately of dissolved salts . The average density of seawater at the ocean surface is 1.025 g/ml...
habitats, though many species tolerate brackish water for extended periods;
Cichlasoma urophthalmus, for example, is equally at home in freshwater
marshIn geography, a marsh, or morass, is a type of wetland that is subject to frequent or continuous flood. Typically the water is shallow and features grasses, rushes, reeds, typhas, sedges, other herbaceous plants, and moss....
es and
mangroveMangroves are various kinds of trees up to medium height and shrubs that grow in saline coastal sediment habitats in the tropics and subtropics – mainly between latitudes N and S...
swamps, and lives and breeds in saltwater environments such as the mangrove belts around
barrier islandBarrier islands, a coastal landform and a type of barrier system, are relatively narrow strips of sand that parallel the mainland coast. They usually occur in chains, consisting of anything from a few islands to more than a dozen...
s. Several species of
TilapiaTilapia , is the common name for nearly a hundred species of cichlid fish from the tilapiine cichlid tribe. Tilapia inhabit a variety of fresh water habitats, including shallow streams, ponds, rivers and lakes. Historically, they have been of major importance in artisan fishing in Africa and the...
,
SarotherodonSarotherodon is a genus of tilapiine cichlids, fishes endemic to Africa and the Middle East. A few species from this genus have been introduced far outside their native range, and are important in aquaculture. They mainly inhabit fresh and brackish water, but a few can live in salt water...
, and
OreochromisOreochromis is a large genus of tilapiine cichlids, fishes endemic to Africa and the Middle East. Several species from this genus have been introduced far outside their native range, and are important in aquaculture...
are
euryhalineEuryhaline organisms are able to adapt to a wide range of salinities. An example of a euryhaline fish is the molly which can live in fresh, brackish, or salt water. The European shore crab is an example of a euryhaline invertebrate that can live in salt and brackish water...
and can disperse along brackish coastlines between rivers. Only a few cichlids, however, inhabit primarily brackish or salt water, most notably
Etroplus maculatus,
Etroplus suratensisThe green chromide is a species of cichlid fish from freshwater and brackish water in southern India and Sri Lanka...
, and
Sarotherodon melanotheron. The perhaps most extreme habitats for cichlids are the warm
hypersaline lakeA hypersaline lake is a landlocked body of water that contains significant concentrations of sodium chloride or other mineral salts, with saline levels surpassing that of ocean water . Specific microbial and crustacean species thrive in these high salinity environments that are otherwise...
s where the members of the genera
AlcolapiaAlcolapia is a genus of fishes in the Cichlidae family. Their native range is largely restricted to the hypersaline, warm Lake Natron and Lake Magadi in Kenya and Tanzania, although two species also have been introduced to Lake Nakuru.-Species:...
and
DanakiliaDanakilia is a genus of cichlid fish containing two species, namely Danakilia franchettii from the saline Lake Giulietti in Ethiopia, and Danakilia dinicolai from the saline Lake Abaeded in Eritrea....
are found. Lake Abaeded in
EritreaEritrea , officially the State of Eritrea, is a country in the Horn of Africa. Eritrea derives it's name from the Greek word Erethria, meaning 'red land'. The capital is Asmara. It is bordered by Sudan in the west, Ethiopia in the south, and Djibouti in the southeast...
encompasses the entire distribution of
D. dinicolaiDanakilia dinicolai is a species of cichlid fish from the saline Lake Abaeded in Eritrea....
, and its temperature ranges from 29 to 45 °C (84.2 to 113 F).
With the exception of the species from Cuba and Hispaniola, cichlids have not reached any oceanic island and have a predominantly Gondwanan distribution, showing the precise sister relationships predicted by
vicarianceVicariance is a process by which the geographical range of an individual taxon, or a whole biota, is split into discontinuous parts by the formation of a physical barrier to gene flow or dispersal. Vicariance of whole biotas occurs following large-scale geophysical events such as the uplift of a...
: Africa-South America and India-Madagascar. The dispersal hypothesis, in contrast, requires cichlids to have negotiated thousands of kilometers of open ocean between India and Madagascar without colonizing any other island or, for that matter, crossing the
Mozambique ChannelThe Mozambique Channel is a portion of the Indian Ocean located between the island nation of Madagascar and southeast Africa, primarily the country of Mozambique. It was a World War II clashpoint during the Battle of Madagascar...
to Africa. Although the vast majority of Malagasy cichlids are entirely restricted to freshwater,
Ptychochromis grandidieriPtychochromis grandidieri is a species of fish in the Cichlidae family. It is endemic to river basins along a large part of the eastern coast of Madagascar, although it has been recorded as far as inland. Uniquely in the genus Ptychochromis, this species also occurs in brackish water. It reaches a...
and
Paretroplus polyactisParetroplus polyactis is a vulnerable species of cichlid fish found widely in fresh and brackish water in coastal regions and associated river basins in eastern Madagascar. It is the only Paretroplus found in the southern half of Madagascar, and one of only two found in eastern drainages . P...
are commonly found in coastal brackish water and they are apparently salt tolerant, as is also the case for
Etroplus maculatusThe Orange chromide is a species of fish endemic to freshwater and brackish streams, lagoons and estuaries in southern India and Sri Lanka. The species is popular with fishkeeping hobbyists, and is kept frequently in aquariums...
and
E. suratensisThe green chromide is a species of cichlid fish from freshwater and brackish water in southern India and Sri Lanka...
from India and Sri Lanka.
Feeding
Many cichlids are primarily herbivores feeding on
algaeAlgae are a large and diverse group of simple, typically autotrophic organisms, ranging from unicellular to multicellular forms, such as the giant kelps that grow to 65 meters in length. They are photosynthetic like plants, and "simple" because their tissues are not organized into the many...
(e.g.
PetrochromisPetrochromis is a small genus of seven formally described cichlid species, and at least 7 undescribed species, all endemic to Lake Tanganyika in east Africa.-Species:* Petrochromis famula Matthes & Trewavas, 1960...
) and plants (e.g.
Etroplus suratensisThe green chromide is a species of cichlid fish from freshwater and brackish water in southern India and Sri Lanka...
). Small animals, particularly
invertebrateAn invertebrate is an animal without a backbone. The group includes 97% of all animal species – all animals except those in the chordate subphylum Vertebrata .Invertebrates form a paraphyletic group...
s, are only a minor part of their diet.
Other cichlids are
detritivoreDetritivores, also known as detritophages or detritus feeders or detritus eaters or saprophages, are heterotrophs that obtain nutrients by consuming detritus . By doing so, they contribute to decomposition and the nutrient cycles...
s and eat all types of organic material; among these species are the tilapiines of the genera
OreochromisOreochromis is a large genus of tilapiine cichlids, fishes endemic to Africa and the Middle East. Several species from this genus have been introduced far outside their native range, and are important in aquaculture...
,
SarotherodonSarotherodon is a genus of tilapiine cichlids, fishes endemic to Africa and the Middle East. A few species from this genus have been introduced far outside their native range, and are important in aquaculture. They mainly inhabit fresh and brackish water, but a few can live in salt water...
, and
TilapiaTilapia is a large genus of cichlid fishes endemic to Africa, except for a single species that also occurs in the Middle East. The vast majority of the species are from tropical Western and Middle Africa, but there are also a few species in Northern, Eastern and Southern Africa...
.
Other cichlids are
predatoryA carnivore meaning 'meat eater' is an organism that derives its energy and nutrient requirements from a diet consisting mainly or exclusively of animal tissue, whether through predation or scavenging...
and eat little or no plant matter. These include generalists that catch a variety of small animals, including other fishes and
insectInsects are a class of living creatures within the arthropods that have a chitinous exoskeleton, a three-part body , three pairs of jointed legs, compound eyes, and two antennae...
larvaA larva is a distinct juvenile form many animals undergo before metamorphosis into adults. Animals with indirect development such as insects, amphibians, or cnidarians typically have a larval phase of their life cycle...
e (e.g.
PterophyllumPterophyllum is a small genus of freshwater fish from the family Cichlidae known to most aquarists as "Angelfish". All Pterophyllum species originate from the Amazon River, Orinoco River and Essequibo River basins in tropical South America...
), as well as variety of specialists.
TrematocranusTrematocranus is a small genus of haplochromine cichlids endemic to East Africa.At present, only three validly described species are placed here:* Trematocranus labifer* Trematocranus microstoma – Pointedhead Haplo...
is a specialized
snailSnail is a common name applied to most of the members of the molluscan class Gastropoda that have coiled shells in the adult stage. When the word is used in its most general sense, it includes sea snails, land snails and freshwater snails. The word snail without any qualifier is however more often...
-eater, while
Pungu maclareni feeds on sponges. A number of cichlids feed on other fish, either entirely or in part.
CrenicichlaCrenicichla is a genus of the cichlids family ; it contains the pike cichlids. It is the most speciose genus of South American cichlids, including approximately 115 species as of 2009; one or two species are on average described as new each year...
are stealth-predators that lunge from concealment at passing small fish, while
RhamphochromisRhamphochromis is a genus of cichlid fish endemic to Lake Malawi in East Africa. The genus contains numerous species all of which are latterally compressed pursuit predators....
are open water pursuit predators that chase down their prey.
PaedophagousPaedophagy literally means the "consumption of children". It is a term used to describe the feeding behaviour of fish, or other animals, whose diet is partially, or primarily the eggs or larvae of other animals. The term is frequently applied to various species of cichlid fish from Lake Malawi of...
cichlids such as the
CaprichromisCaprichromis is a small genus of haplochromine cichlids endemic to Lake Malawi in East Africa. This genus contains noted paedophagous cichlids, specialising in the eating of eggs and fry of other cichlid species....
species eat other species' eggs or young, in some cases ramming the heads of mouthbrooding species to force them to disgorge their young. Among the more unusual feeding strategies are those of
CorematodusCorematodus is a small genus of cichlids with only two species....
,
Docimodus evelynaeDocimodus is a small genus of cichlid fish endemic to east Africa. The genus contains two species; Docimodus johnstoni endemic to Lake Malawi, Lake Malombe and the upper reaches of the Shire River and Docimodus evelynae which is limited in its distribution to Lake Malawi.-References:FishBase Eds....
,
PlecodusPlecodus is a genus of fish in the Cichlidae family. All species are endemic to Lake Tanganyika. It contains the following species:* Plecodus elaviae* Plecodus multidentatus* Plecodus paradoxus* Plecodus straeleni...
,
PerissodusPerissodus is a genus of fish in the Cichlidae family.It contains at least seven species:* Perissodus eccentricus* Perissodus elaviae* Perissodus hecqui* Perissodus microlepis* Perissodus multidentatus* Perissodus paradoxus...
, and
Genyochromis spp., which feed on scales and fins of other fishes, a behavior known as
lepidophagyLepidophagy is a specialised feeding behaviour in fish that involves eating of scales of other fish. Lepidophagy is widespread, having been independently evolved in at least five freshwater families and seven marine families...
, along with the death-mimicking behaviour of
NimbochromisNimbochromis is a small genus of haplochromine cichlids endemic to Lake Malawi in East Africa. They are known as sleeper cichlids or kaligono , due to their unique hunting behaviour....
and
ParachromisParachromis is a genus of freshwater fishes from the family Cichlidae. The genus contains 5 species and is limited in its distribution to Central America. Some species occur in Lake Nicaragua and Lake Managua. All species are predatory and relatively large for cichlids.Parachromis friedrichsthalii...
species, which lay motionless, luring small fish to their side prior to ambush.
This variety of feeding styles has helped cichlids to inhabit similarly varied habitats. Its
pharyngeal teethPharyngeal teeth are teeth in the pharyngeal arch of the throat of cyprinids, suckers, and a number of other fish species lacking teeth.Popular aquarium fish such as goldfish and loaches have these structures. Members of the Botia genus such as clown loaches are known to make distinctive clicking...
(teeth in the throat) afford cichlids so many "niche" feeding strategies, because the jaws pick and hold food, while the pharyngeal teeth crush the prey.
Reproduction
Cichlids have highly organized breeding activities.
Brood care
All species show some form of parental care for both
eggAn egg is an organic vessel in which an embryo first begins to develop. In most birds, reptiles, insects, molluscs, fish, and monotremes, an egg is the zygote, resulting from fertilization of the ovum, which is expelled from the body and permitted to develop outside the body until the developing...
s and
larvaA larva is a distinct juvenile form many animals undergo before metamorphosis into adults. Animals with indirect development such as insects, amphibians, or cnidarians typically have a larval phase of their life cycle...
e, often nurturing free-swimming young until they are weeks or months old.
Communal parental care, where multiple monogamous pairs care for a mixed school of young have also been observed in multiple cichlid species, including
Amphilophus citrinellusAmphilophus citrinellus is a large cichlid fish endemic to the San Juan River and adjacent watersheds in Costa Rica and Nicaragua. In the aquarium trade A. citrinellus is often sold under the trade name of Midas cichlid. A. citrinellus are omnivorous and their diet consists of plant material,...
,
Etroplus suratensisThe green chromide is a species of cichlid fish from freshwater and brackish water in southern India and Sri Lanka...
, and
Tilapia rendalli. Comparably, the fry of
Neolamprologus brichardiNeolamprologus brichardi is a species of cichlid fish, endemic to the alkaline waters of Lake Tanganyika in east Africa. It is a popular aquarium fish kept in the fishkeeping hobby, where it is known under a variety of common names including Princess cichlid, Princess of Burundi, Lyretail cichlid,...
, a species that commonly lives in large groups, are protected not only by the adults, but also by older
juvenilesA juvenile is an individual organism that has not yet reached its adult form, sexual maturity or size. Juveniles sometimes look very different from the adult form, particularly in terms of their colour...
from previous spawns.
Several cichlids, including discus (
Symphysodon spp.), some
AmphilophusAmphilophus is a genus of cichlid fishes from Central America. The genus currently contains 23 species. However, a 2008 study led by Oldrich Rican suggested that several species within Amphilophus should be moved to the genus Astatheros. Species proposed to be moved to Astatheros are A. alfari,...
species,
EtroplusEtroplus is a small genus of cichlids with only three species. They are found in southern India and Sri Lanka, where they are the only native cichlids.Their closest living relatives are Paretroplus from Madagascar...
and
UaruUaru is a small genus of cichlid fishes with only two species. The name Uaru comes from the Amazon word for toad. The genus occurs in blackwater and whitewater habitats in the upper Orinoco and Rio Negro rivers of the Amazon basin. U. amphiacanthoides is frequently available as a food fish in...
species feed their young with a skin
secretionSecretion is the process of elaborating, releasing, and oozing chemicals, or a secreted chemical substance from a cell or gland. In contrast to excretion, the substance may have a certain function, rather than being a waste product...
from mucous glands.
Parental care falls into one of four categories: substrate or open brooders, secretive cave brooders (also known as guarding speleophils), and at least two types of
mouthbrooderMouthbrooding, also known as oral incubation and buccal incubation, is the care given by some groups of animals to their offspring by holding them in the mouth of the parent for extended periods of time. Although mouthbrooding is performed by a variety of different animals, most notably Darwin's...
s, ovophile mouthbrooders and larvophile mouthbrooders.
Open brooding
Open or substrate brooding cichlids lay their eggs in the open, on rocks, leaves, or logs. Examples of open brooding cichlids include
PterophyllumPterophyllum is a small genus of freshwater fish from the family Cichlidae known to most aquarists as "Angelfish". All Pterophyllum species originate from the Amazon River, Orinoco River and Essequibo River basins in tropical South America...
,
SymphysodonDiscus are a genus of three species of cichlid freshwater fishes native to the Amazon River basin. Discus are popular as aquarium fish and their aquaculture in several countries in Asia is a major industry.-Taxonomy:...
spp, and
Anomalochromis thomasiAnomalochromis thomasi is a species of fish in the family Cichlidae, the only species in the genus Anomalochromis. It is a small cichlid growing to a length of . The natural habitat of A. thomasi is Sierra Leone, Liberia and Guinea, mainly in smaller streams...
. Male and female parents usually engage in differing brooding roles. Most commonly, the male patrols the pair's territory and repels intruders, while females fan water over the eggs, removing the infertile and leading the fry while foraging. However, both sexes are able to perform the full range of parenting behaviours.
Cave brooding
Secretive cave spawning cichlids lay their eggs in caves, crevices, holes, or discarded mollusc shells, frequently attaching the eggs to the roof of the chamber. Examples include
Pelvicachromis spp.,
ArchocentrusThe Convict cichlid is a fish species from the family Cichlidae, native to Central America, also known as the zebra cichlid...
spp, and
ApistogrammaApistogramma is a genus of approximately a hundred species of fish from the family Cichlidae found in tropical areas of the Amazon basin and Venezuela. Apistogramma literally means "irregular lateral line" referring to a common trait of the species under this taxon...
spp. Free-swimming fry and parents communicate in captivity and in the wild. Frequently this communication is based on body movements, such as shaking and pelvic fin flicking. In addition, open and cave brooding parents assist in finding food resources for their fry. Multiple neotropical cichlid species perform leaf-turning and fin-digging behaviors.
Ovophile mouthbrooding
Ovophile mouthbrooders incubate their eggs in their mouths as soon as they are laid, and frequently mouthbrood free-swimming fry for several weeks. Examples include many
Great Rift ValleyThe Great Rift Valley is a name given in the late 19th century by British explorer John Walter Gregory to the continuous geographic trench, approximately in length, that runs from northern Syria in Southwest Asia to central Mozambique in South East Africa...
lakes (
Lake MalawiLake Malawi , is an African Great Lake and the southernmost lake in the Great Rift Valley system of East Africa. This lake, the third largest in Africa and the eighth largest lake in the world, is located between Malawi, Mozambique, and Tanzania...
,
Lake TanganyikaLake Tanganyika is an African Great Lake. It is estimated to be the second largest freshwater lake in the world by volume, and the second deepest, after Lake Baikal in Siberia; it is also the world's longest freshwater lake...
and
Lake VictoriaLake Victoria is one of the African Great Lakes. The lake was named for Queen Victoria of the United Kingdom, by John Hanning Speke, the first European to discover this lake....
) endemics, e.g.:
MaylandiaMaylandia or Metriaclima is a genus of haplochromine cichlids endemic to Lake Malawi in East Africa. They belong to the mbuna haplochromines....
,
PseudotropheusPseudotropheus is a genus of rock dwelling cichlids found in Lake Malawi. Like some other large cichlid genera, such as Cichlasoma, a number of related fishes have been recently re-assigned to different genera such as Tropheops or Maylandia...
, and
TropheusTropheus is a small genus of six species of cichlid fish endemic to Lake Tanganyika in East Africa. The genus Tropheus is widespread across all regions of lake Tanganyika, from Burundi in the North to Zambia in the South.Males and females are relatively similar but do display obvious sexual...
, along with some
South AmericaSouth America is a continent situated in the Western Hemisphere, mostly in the Southern Hemisphere, with a relatively small portion in the Northern Hemisphere. The continent is also considered a subcontinent of the Americas. It is bordered on the west by the Pacific Ocean and on the north and east...
n cichlids such as
Geophagus steindachneriRedhump eartheater is a South American Eartheater Cichlid of the genus Geophagus. It is sometimes referred to by one of two invalid junior synonyms, Geophagus hondae or Geophagus magdalena.-Location:...
.
Larvophile mouthbrooding
Larvophile mouthbrooders lay eggs in the open or in a cave and take the hatched larvae into the mouth. Examples include some variants of
Geophagus altifronsThe Geophagus altifrons is a freshwater eartheater cichlid fish native to South America, particularly in the Amazon Forest. Introduced to Singapore, it thrives in slow-moving streams as well as reservoirs. Its ecological impact on its adopted habitat is still unknown.A member of the Cichlidae...
, and some
AequidensAequidens is a genus of fish in the family Cichlidae. The genus itself is poorly defined and polyphyletic. Many species have been reallocated to other genera such as Bujurquina, Laetacara, Tahuantinsuyoa , Krobia and Cleithracara .Two fishes commonly sold in the aquarium hobby are Aequidens rivulatus...
,
GymnogeophagusGymnogeophagus is a genus of cichlid fishes from South America, where they found are known from various river basins in southern Brazil, Paraguay, Uruguay and northern Argentina. They are part of a group popularly known as eartheaters.-Species:...
, and
SatanopercaSatanoperca is a small genus of cichlid fishes from South America, where they are known from the Orinoco, Essequibo, Nickerie, Amazon, Paraná and Paraguay river basins...
. Mouthbrooders, whether of eggs or larvae, are predominantly females. Exceptions that also involve the males include eretmodine cichlids (genera
SpathodusSpathodus is a small genus of two cichlid species endemic to Lake Tanganyika in east Africa.-Species:*Spathodus erythrodon -Blue-Spotted Goby Cichlid [Boulenger, 1900] *Spathodus marlieri [Poll, 1950]-References:...
,
EretmodusEretmodus is a monotypic genus of cichlid fish endemic to Lake Tanganyika in East Africa. The genus currently contains one species, Eretmodus cyanostictus.-References:...
, and
TanganicodusTanganicodus is a monotypic cichlid genus whose single representative, Tanganicodus irsacae, or the Spotfin Goby Cichlid, is endemic to Lake Tanganyika in east Africa.-References:...
), some
SarotherodonSarotherodon is a genus of tilapiine cichlids, fishes endemic to Africa and the Middle East. A few species from this genus have been introduced far outside their native range, and are important in aquaculture. They mainly inhabit fresh and brackish water, but a few can live in salt water...
species,
Chromidotilapia guentheriChromidotilapia guentheri, sometimes referred to as Guenther's Mouthbrooder, is a cichlid fish from west Africa. It is noted for being a biparental mouthbrooder. Eggs are laid on a flat open surface and taken in the parents' mouth. Unlike many mouthbrooding cichlid species, both parents...
, and some
AequidensAequidens is a genus of fish in the family Cichlidae. The genus itself is poorly defined and polyphyletic. Many species have been reallocated to other genera such as Bujurquina, Laetacara, Tahuantinsuyoa , Krobia and Cleithracara .Two fishes commonly sold in the aquarium hobby are Aequidens rivulatus...
species. Rare paternal mouthbrooding occurs, for example, in
Sarotherodon melanotheron. This method appears to have evolved independently in several groups of African cichlids.
Mating
Cichlids mate either monogamously or polygamously. The mating system of a given cichlid species is not consistently associated with its brooding system. For example, although most monogamous cichlids are not mouthbrooders,
ChromidotilapiaChromidotilapia is a genus of cichlid fishes. The genus contains 11 species. Of these, 9 are from Central Africa, one is from Liberia to Cameroon, while the final Chromidotilapia is a genus of cichlid fishes. The genus contains 11 species. Of these, 9 are from Central Africa, one (C. guentheri) is...
,
GymnogeophagusGymnogeophagus is a genus of cichlid fishes from South America, where they found are known from various river basins in southern Brazil, Paraguay, Uruguay and northern Argentina. They are part of a group popularly known as eartheaters.-Species:...
,
SpathodusSpathodus is a small genus of two cichlid species endemic to Lake Tanganyika in east Africa.-Species:*Spathodus erythrodon -Blue-Spotted Goby Cichlid [Boulenger, 1900] *Spathodus marlieri [Poll, 1950]-References:...
and
TanganicodusTanganicodus is a monotypic cichlid genus whose single representative, Tanganicodus irsacae, or the Spotfin Goby Cichlid, is endemic to Lake Tanganyika in east Africa.-References:...
are all monogamous mouthbrooders. In contrast, numerous open or cave spawning cichlids are polygamous; examples include
ApistogrammaApistogramma is a genus of approximately a hundred species of fish from the family Cichlidae found in tropical areas of the Amazon basin and Venezuela. Apistogramma literally means "irregular lateral line" referring to a common trait of the species under this taxon...
,
LamprologusLamprologus is a genus of fishes from the cichlid family. They are native to Lake Tanganyika and the Congo River Basin in Africa. The type species for this genus is Lamprologus congoensis, a species from the Congo River. The genus is under some revision and may eventually be restricted to these...
,
NannacaraNannacara is a genus of small freshwater cichlid fish endemic to South America. The genus is part of the Cichlasomatini tribe of the Cichlasomatinae subfamily. In the aquarium hobby, the fish is considered a dwarf cichlid along with Apistogramma, Mikrogeophagus, and Dicrossus species...
and
PelvicachromisThe genus Pelvicachromis includes a range of small , brightly coloured cichlids which occur in tropical West Africa and Central Africa. They typically inhabit soft, acidic water ....
.
Population status
In 2010, the International Union for Conservation of Nature classified 184 species as
vulnerableOn 30 January 2010, the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species identified 9694 Vulnerable species, subspecies and varieties, stocks and sub-populations.-References:...
, 52 as
endangeredAn endangered species is a population of organisms which is at risk of becoming extinct because it is either few in numbers, or threatened by changing environmental or predation parameters...
, and 106 as
critically endangeredVersion 2010.3 of the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species identified 3744 Critically Endangered species, subspecies and varieties, stocks and subpopulations.Critically Endangered by kingdom:*1993 Animalia*2 Fungi*1745 Plantae*4 Protista-References:...
. At present, the IUCN only lists
Yssichromis sp. nov. "argens" as
extinct in the wildExtinct in the Wild is a conservation status assigned to species or lower taxa, the only known living members of which are being kept in captivity or as a naturalized population outside its historic range.-Examples:...
, and six species are listed as entirely extinct, but it is acknowledged that many more possibly belong in these categories (for example,
Haplochromis aelocephalusHaplochromis aelocephalus is a species of fish in the Cichlidae family. It is endemic to Lake Victoria, but has not been seen since 1985. It may be extinct, but is maintained as Critically Endangered by the IUCN in the small chance that a tiny –but currently unknown– population survives.-Source:*...
,
H. apogonoidesHaplochromis apogonoides is a species of fish in the cichlid family. It is endemic to Lake Victoria, but has not been seen since 1983. It may be extinct, but is maintained as Critically Endangered by the IUCN in the small chance that a tiny –but currently unknown– population survives....
,
H. dentexHaplochromis dentex is a species of fish in the Cichlidae family. It is endemic to Lake Victoria, but has not been seen since 1987. It may be extinct, but is maintained as Critically Endangered by the IUCN in the small chance that a tiny –but currently unknown– population survives.-Source:*...
,
H. dichrourusHaplochromis dichrourus is a species of fish in the cichlid family. It is endemic to Lake Victoria, but has not been seen since 1986. It may be extinct, but is maintained as Critically Endangered by the IUCN in the small chance that a tiny –but currently unknown– population survives....
and numerous other members of the genus
Haplochromis have not been seen since the 1980s, but are maintained as Critically Endangered in the small chance that tiny –but currently unknown– populations survive).
Lake Victoria
Because of the introduced
Nile perchThe Nile perch is a species of freshwaterfish in family Latidae of order Perciformes. It is widespread throughout muchof the Afrotropic ecozone, being native to the Congo, Nile, Senegal, Niger, and Lake Chad, Volta, Lake Turkana and other river basins. It also occurs in the brackish waters of...
(
Lates niloticus) and
water hyacinthThe seven species of water hyacinth comprise the genus Eichhornia. Water hyacinth are a free-floating perennial aquatic plant native to tropical and sub-tropical South America. With broad, thick, glossy, ovate leaves, water hyacinth may rise above the surface of the water as much as 1 meter in...
, deforestation that led to water
siltationSiltation is the pollution of water by fine particulate terrestrial clastic material, with a particle size dominated by silt or clay. It refers both to the increased concentration of suspended sediments, and to the increased accumulation of fine sediments on bottoms where they are undesirable...
, and overfishing, many
Lake VictoriaLake Victoria is one of the African Great Lakes. The lake was named for Queen Victoria of the United Kingdom, by John Hanning Speke, the first European to discover this lake....
species have been wiped out or drastically reduced. By around 1980, lake fisheries yielded only 1 percent cichlids, a drastic decline from 80 percent in earlier years.
About two-thirds of endemic cichlids (approximately 300 species), especially
bottom feederDemersal fish live on or near the bottom of the sea or lakes. They occupy the sea floors and lake beds, which usually consist of mud, sand, gravel or rocks. In coastal waters they are found on or near the continental shelf, and in deep waters they are found on or near the continental slope or along...
s, became endangered or extinct. Some survivors have adapted by becoming smaller or hybridizing with other species. Satellite lakes such as
Lake EdwardLake Edward or Edward Nyanza is the smallest of the African Great Lakes. It is located in the western Great Rift Valley, on the border between the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Uganda, with its northern shore a few kilometres south of the Equator...
and
Lake KyogaLake Kyoga is a large shallow lake complex of Uganda, about in area and at an elevation of 914 m. The Victoria Nile flows through the lake on its way from Lake Victoria to Lake Albert. The main inflow from Lake Victoria is regulated by the Nalubaale Power Station in Jinja. Another source of water...
have not been as strongly affected, however, and harbor an array of similar species.
Food and game fish
Although cichlids are mostly small- to medium-sized, many are notable as food and game fishes. With few thick rib bones and tasty flesh,
artisan fishingArtisan fishing is a term used to describe small scale low-technology commercial or subsistence fishing practices. The term particularly applies to coastal or island ethnic groups using traditional techniques such as rod and tackle, arrows and harpoons, throw nets and drag nets, and traditional...
is not uncommon in
Central AmericaCentral America is the central geographic region of the Americas. It is the southernmost, isthmian portion of the North American continent, which connects with South America on the southeast. When considered part of the unified continental model, it is considered a subcontinent...
and
South AmericaSouth America is a continent situated in the Western Hemisphere, mostly in the Southern Hemisphere, with a relatively small portion in the Northern Hemisphere. The continent is also considered a subcontinent of the Americas. It is bordered on the west by the Pacific Ocean and on the north and east...
, as well as areas surrounding the
AfricaAfrica is the world's second largest and second most populous continent, after Asia. At about 30.2 million km² including adjacent islands, it covers 6% of the Earth's total surface area and 20.4% of the total land area...
n
rift lakeA rift lake is a lake formed as a result of subsidence related to movement on faults within a rift zone, an area of extensional tectonics in the continental crust. They are often found within rift valleys and may be very deep...
s.
Tilapia
The most important food cichlids, however, are the tilapiines of
North AfricaNorth Africa or Northern Africa is the northernmost region of the African continent, linked by the Sahara to Sub-Saharan Africa. Geopolitically, the United Nations definition of Northern Africa includes eight countries or territories; Algeria, Egypt, Libya, Morocco, South Sudan, Sudan, Tunisia, and...
. Fast growing, tolerant of stocking density, and adaptable, tilapiine species have been introduced and farmed extensively in many parts of
AsiaAsia is the world's largest and most populous continent, located primarily in the eastern and northern hemispheres. It covers 8.7% of the Earth's total surface area and with approximately 3.879 billion people, it hosts 60% of the world's current human population...
and are increasingly common
aquacultureAquaculture, also known as aquafarming, is the farming of aquatic organisms such as fish, crustaceans, molluscs and aquatic plants. Aquaculture involves cultivating freshwater and saltwater populations under controlled conditions, and can be contrasted with commercial fishing, which is the...
targets elsewhere.
Farmed tilapia production is about 1500000 tonnes (1,476,305.3 LT) annually with an estimated value of US$1.8 billion, about equal to that of
salmonSalmon is the common name for several species of fish in the family Salmonidae. Several other fish in the same family are called trout; the difference is often said to be that salmon migrate and trout are resident, but this distinction does not strictly hold true...
and
troutTrout is the name for a number of species of freshwater and saltwater fish belonging to the Salmoninae subfamily of the family Salmonidae. Salmon belong to the same family as trout. Most salmon species spend almost all their lives in salt water...
.
Unlike those carnivorous fish, tilapia can feed on
algaeAlgae are a large and diverse group of simple, typically autotrophic organisms, ranging from unicellular to multicellular forms, such as the giant kelps that grow to 65 meters in length. They are photosynthetic like plants, and "simple" because their tissues are not organized into the many...
or any plant-based food. This reduces the cost of tilapia farming, reduces fishing pressure on prey species, avoids concentrating toxins that accumulate at higher levels of the
food chainA food web depicts feeding connections in an ecological community. Ecologists can broadly lump all life forms into one of two categories called trophic levels: 1) the autotrophs, and 2) the heterotrophs...
and makes tilapia the preferred "aquatic chickens" of the trade.
Game fish
Many large cichlids make good game fish. The strong, hard-fighting
peacock bassPeacock 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,...
(
CichlaCichla is a genus of fifteen described species of fish from the family Cichlidae. Kullander & Ferreira described nine species in a recent paper 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...
species) of
South AmericaSouth America is a continent situated in the Western Hemisphere, mostly in the Southern Hemisphere, with a relatively small portion in the Northern Hemisphere. The continent is also considered a subcontinent of the Americas. It is bordered on the west by the Pacific Ocean and on the north and east...
is one of the most popular sportfish. It was introduced in many waters around the world. In
FloridaFlorida is a state in the southeastern United States, located on the nation's Atlantic and Gulf coasts. It is bordered to the west by the Gulf of Mexico, to the north by Alabama and Georgia and to the east by the Atlantic Ocean. With a population of 18,801,310 as measured by the 2010 census, it...
, this fish generates millions of hours of fishing and sportfishing revenue of more than US$8 million a year. Other cichlids preferred by anglers include the Oscar,
Mayan cichlidThe Mayan cichlid, Cichlasoma urophthalmus, is a member of the Cichlidae family of fish. It is also known as the mojarra castarrica in its native Mexico. It has interesting colors, with its eight black bands and its large ocellus on the caudal peduncle , which gives it its scientific name...
(
Cichlasoma urophthalmus), and jaguar guapote (
Parachromis managuensis).
Aquarium fish
Since 1945, cichlids have become increasingly popular as aquarium fish. Many cichlids are small to medium-sized, easy to feed with a range of prepared
fish foodAquarium fish feed is plant or animal material intended for consumption by pet fish kept in aquariums or ponds. Fish foods normally contain macro nutrients, trace elements and vitamins necessary to keep captive fish in good health. Approximately 80% of fishkeeping hobbyists feed their fish...
s, breed readily, and practice brood care, making good aquarium fish.
The most common species in hobbyist aquaria is
PterophyllumPterophyllum is a small genus of freshwater fish from the family Cichlidae known to most aquarists as "Angelfish". All Pterophyllum species originate from the Amazon River, Orinoco River and Essequibo River basins in tropical South America...
scalare from the
Amazon RiverThe Amazon of South America is the second longest river in the world and by far the largest by waterflow with an average discharge greater than the next seven largest rivers combined...
basin in tropical South America, known in the trade as the "angelfish". Other popular or readily available species include the oscar (
Astronotus ocellatus),
convict cichlidThe Convict cichlid is a fish species from the family Cichlidae, native to Central America, also known as the zebra cichlid...
(
Archocentrus nigrofasciatus) and
discusDiscus are a genus of three species of cichlid freshwater fishes native to the Amazon River basin. Discus are popular as aquarium fish and their aquaculture in several countries in Asia is a major industry.-Taxonomy:...
(
Symphysodon spp.).
Cichlids can be kept in aquaria with other fish; however, many cichlids eat smaller fish. Conversely, some cichlids, such as
ApistogrammaApistogramma is a genus of approximately a hundred species of fish from the family Cichlidae found in tropical areas of the Amazon basin and Venezuela. Apistogramma literally means "irregular lateral line" referring to a common trait of the species under this taxon...
or
JulidochromisJulidochromis is a genus of cichlids in the subfamily Pseudocrenilabrinae. They are commonly called julies and are endemic to Lake Tanganyika in eastern Africa. This genus includes at least 5 species, each with a number of subspecies and local variants of uncertain taxonomic status...
spp., can be timid. In such cases the use of
dither fishThe term dither fish refers to an arbitrary group of aquarium fish used by cichlid keeping aquarists to reduce innate timidity in some species of cichlids . Dither fish swim around the top of a tank and this behavior lets shier fish know that there are no predators around and allows them to relax...
is recommended.
Hybrids and selective breeding
Some cichlids readily hybridize with related species, both in the wild and under artificial conditions. Other groups of fishes, such as European cyprinids, also hybridize. Unusually, cichlid hybrids have been put to extensive commercial use, in particular for aquaculture and aquaria. The hybrid red strain of
tilapiaTilapia , is the common name for nearly a hundred species of cichlid fish from the tilapiine cichlid tribe. Tilapia inhabit a variety of fresh water habitats, including shallow streams, ponds, rivers and lakes. Historically, they have been of major importance in artisan fishing in Africa and the...
, for example, is often preferred in aquaculture for its rapid growth. Tilapia hybridization can produce all-male populations to control stock density or prevent reproduction in ponds.
Aquarium hybrids
The most ubiquitous aquarium hybrid is perhaps the blood parrot cichlid which is a cross of several species, especially from genus
AmphilophusAmphilophus is a genus of cichlid fishes from Central America. The genus currently contains 23 species. However, a 2008 study led by Oldrich Rican suggested that several species within Amphilophus should be moved to the genus Astatheros. Species proposed to be moved to Astatheros are A. alfari,...
. With a
beakThe beak, bill or rostrum is an external anatomical structure of birds which is used for eating and for grooming, manipulating objects, killing prey, fighting, probing for food, courtship and feeding young...
-shaped mouth, an abnormal
spineIn human anatomy, the vertebral column is a column usually consisting of 24 articulating vertebrae, and 9 fused vertebrae in the sacrum and the coccyx. It is situated in the dorsal aspect of the torso, separated by intervertebral discs...
, and an occasionally missing caudal fin (known as the "love heart"
parrotParrots, also known as psittacines , are birds of the roughly 372 species in 86 genera that make up the order Psittaciformes, found in most tropical and subtropical regions. The order is subdivided into three families: the Psittacidae , the Cacatuidae and the Strigopidae...
cichlid), the fish is controversial among aquarists. Some have called blood parrot cichlids "the Frankenstein monster of the fish world." Another notable hybrid, the flowerhorn cichlid, was very popular in some parts of
AsiaAsia is the world's largest and most populous continent, located primarily in the eastern and northern hemispheres. It covers 8.7% of the Earth's total surface area and with approximately 3.879 billion people, it hosts 60% of the world's current human population...
from 2001 until late 2003, and is believed to bring good luck to its owner. The popularity of the flowerhorn cichlid declined in 2004. Owners released many specimens into the rivers and canals of
Malaysia and
SingaporeSingapore , officially the Republic of Singapore, is a Southeast Asian city-state off the southern tip of the Malay Peninsula, north of the equator. An island country made up of 63 islands, it is separated from Malaysia by the Straits of Johor to its north and from Indonesia's Riau Islands by the...
where they threaten endemic communities.
Numerous cichlid species have been
selectively bredSelective breeding is the process of breeding plants and animals for particular genetic traits. Typically, strains that are selectively bred are domesticated, and the breeding is sometimes done by a professional breeder. Bred animals are known as breeds, while bred plants are known as varieties,...
to develop ornamental aquarium strains. The most intensive programs have involved
angelfishPterophyllum is a small genus of freshwater fish from the family Cichlidae known to most aquarists as "Angelfish". All Pterophyllum species originate from the Amazon River, Orinoco River and Essequibo River basins in tropical South America...
and
discusDiscus are a genus of three species of cichlid freshwater fishes native to the Amazon River basin. Discus are popular as aquarium fish and their aquaculture in several countries in Asia is a major industry.-Taxonomy:...
, and many
mutationIn molecular biology and genetics, mutations are changes in a genomic sequence: the DNA sequence of a cell's genome or the DNA or RNA sequence of a virus. They can be defined as sudden and spontaneous changes in the cell. Mutations are caused by radiation, viruses, transposons and mutagenic...
s that affect both coloration and finnage are known. Other cichlids have been bred for albino, leucistic, and
xanthisticXanthochromism is a term that may be applied to birds, fish and other animals whose colouration is unusually yellow through an excess of yellow pigment, or possibly a loss of darker pigments that allows yellow pigment to be unusually dominant...
pigmentA pigment is a material that changes the color of reflected or transmitted light as the result of wavelength-selective absorption. This physical process differs from fluorescence, phosphorescence, and other forms of luminescence, in which a material emits light.Many materials selectively absorb...
mutationIn molecular biology and genetics, mutations are changes in a genomic sequence: the DNA sequence of a cell's genome or the DNA or RNA sequence of a virus. They can be defined as sudden and spontaneous changes in the cell. Mutations are caused by radiation, viruses, transposons and mutagenic...
s, including oscars,
convictsThe Convict cichlid is a fish species from the family Cichlidae, native to Central America, also known as the zebra cichlid...
and
Pelvicachromis pulcher. Both dominant and recessive pigment mutations have been observed. In
convict cichlidThe Convict cichlid is a fish species from the family Cichlidae, native to Central America, also known as the zebra cichlid...
s, for example, a leucistic coloration is recessively inherited, while in
Oreochromis niloticus niloticus red coloration is caused by a dominant inherited mutation.
This selective breeding may have
unintended consequenceIn the social sciences, unintended consequences are outcomes that are not the outcomes intended by a purposeful action. The concept has long existed but was named and popularised in the 20th century by American sociologist Robert K. Merton...
s. For example, hybrid strains of
Mikrogeophagus ramireziMikrogeophagus ramirezi is a species of freshwater fish endemic to the Orinoco River basin, in the savannahs of Venezuela and Colombia in South America...
have health and fertility problems. Similarly, intentional
inbreedingInbreeding is the reproduction from the mating of two genetically related parents. Inbreeding results in increased homozygosity, which can increase the chances of offspring being affected by recessive or deleterious traits. This generally leads to a decreased fitness of a population, which is...
can cause physical abnormalities, such as the notched
phenotypeA phenotype is an organism's observable characteristics or traits: such as its morphology, development, biochemical or physiological properties, behavior, and products of behavior...
in
angelfishPterophyllum is a small genus of freshwater fish from the family Cichlidae known to most aquarists as "Angelfish". All Pterophyllum species originate from the Amazon River, Orinoco River and Essequibo River basins in tropical South America...
.
Genera
As of 2006, there were some 220 genera recognized and covered by
FishBaseFishBase is a comprehensive database of information about fish species . It is the largest and most extensively accessed online database on adult finfish on the web...
:
- Abactochromis Oliver & Arnegard 2010
- Acarichthys Eigenmann
Carl H. Eigenmann was an ichthyologist who, along with his wife Rosa Smith Eigenmann, described many of the fishes of North America and South America for the first time....
1912
- Acaronia
Acaronia is a small genus of cichlids with two species. They are found in the Amazon, Orinoco and other basins in northern South America....
MyersDr. George Sprague Myers spent most of his career at Stanford University, where he was one of the leading American ichthyologists of the twentieth century. He served as the editor of Stanford Ichthyological Bulletin as well as president of the American Society of Ichthyologists and Herpetologists...
1940
- Aequidens
Aequidens is a genus of fish in the family Cichlidae. The genus itself is poorly defined and polyphyletic. Many species have been reallocated to other genera such as Bujurquina, Laetacara, Tahuantinsuyoa , Krobia and Cleithracara .Two fishes commonly sold in the aquarium hobby are Aequidens rivulatus...
Eigenmann & Bray 1894
- Allochromis Greenwood 1980
- Alticorpus
Alticorpus is a small genus of cichlids containing five formally described species, and at least 2 undescribed species, all endemic to the deep waters of Lake Malawi....
Stauffer & McKaye 1988
- Altolamprologus
Altolamprologus is a small genus of pseudocrenilabrine cichlids endemic to Lake Tanganyika in eastern Africa. They inhabit areas of the lake with large amounts of rock, most frequently in water two to ten metres in depth. Two formally described species comprise this genus, with perhaps one dwarf A....
PollMax Fernand Leon Poll was a Belgian ichthyologist who specialised in Cichlidae.In the years 1946 and 1947 he organised an expedition to Lake Tanganyika....
1986
- Amatitlania
Amatitlania is a small genus of cichlid fishes from Central America. The genus currently contains four species. The genus is closely related to Archocentrus and Cryptoheros, and contains the convict cichlids that were previously placed in those genera. The genus was erected by Juan Schmitter-Soto...
Schmitter-Soto, 2007
- Amphilophus
Amphilophus is a genus of cichlid fishes from Central America. The genus currently contains 23 species. However, a 2008 study led by Oldrich Rican suggested that several species within Amphilophus should be moved to the genus Astatheros. Species proposed to be moved to Astatheros are A. alfari,...
AgassizJean Louis Rodolphe Agassiz was a Swiss paleontologist, glaciologist, geologist and a prominent innovator in the study of the Earth's natural history. He grew up in Switzerland and became a professor of natural history at University of Neuchâtel...
, 1859
- Andinoacara
Andinoacara is a genus of fish in the family Cichlidae.- Species:*Andinoacara biseriatus *Andinoacara coeruleopunctatus *Andinoacara latifrons *Andinoacara pulcher...
Musilova, Z., Rican, O. & Novak, J., 2009
- Anomalochromis Greenwood 1985
- Apistogramma
Apistogramma is a genus of approximately a hundred species of fish from the family Cichlidae found in tropical areas of the Amazon basin and Venezuela. Apistogramma literally means "irregular lateral line" referring to a common trait of the species under this taxon...
Regan 1913
- Apistogrammoides
Apistogrammoides is a genus of cichlid fish. The single species, Apistogrammoides pucallpaensis, is a very small cichlid, reaching in length. It is found in the lower Ucayali River in Peru, and the upper Amazon River in Peru and Colombia. The genus is closely allied with Apistogramma....
Meinken 1965
- Archocentrus
Archocentrus is a small genus of cichlid fishes from Central America. The genus currently contains 3 species. It formerly included 7 of the species now included in the genus Cryptoheros, as well as the convict cichlid, now included in the genus Amatitlania. The Rainbow Cichlid, Archocentrus...
Gill 1877
- Aristochromis Trewavas, 1935
- Astatoreochromis
Astatoreochromis is a small genus of haplochromine cichlids endemic to riverine habitats in East Africa. Tilapia bemini, usually placed in the tilapiines, may be rather close to this genus...
PellegrinJacques Pellegrin was a French zoologist.Pellegrin was born in Paris, and studied natural history. In 1894 he became assistant chairman of zoology at the Muséum national d'histoire naturelle, replacing Léon Vaillant .He got his doctorates in medicine and science...
1904
- Astatotilapia
Astatotilapia is a genus of haplochromine cichlids from Africa, with a single species in Israel and Syria. Many species have been moved between this genus and Haplochromis, and while some consensus has been reached in recent years, their mutual delimitation is still far from settled.At present,...
Pellegrin 1904
- Astronotus
Astronotus is a genus of South American fish from the family Cichlidae. The genus is one of three genera which make up the tribe Chaetobranchini. There are two species in the genus , both of which are found in the Amazon Basin, while one of two also is found in the Paraná and Paraguay rivers....
Swainson 1839
- Aulonocara
Aulonocara is a genus of haplochromine cichlids endemic to Lake Malawi in East Africa. All Aulonocara species are maternal mouth brooders. Particularly in the aquarium hobby, Aulonocara species are also known as peacock cichlids, aulonocaras or simply "peacocks"...
Regan 1922
- Aulonocranus
Aulonocranus is a monotypic genus of cichlid fish. The single species, Aulonocranus dewindti, is endemic to Lake Tanganyika in East Africa.-References:...
Regan 1920
- Australoheros
Australoheros is a fish genus in the cichlid family. Most are restricted to rivers and streams in southeastern Brazil, Paraguay, Uruguay and northeastern Argentina, but at least one species is also found in lakes and swamps. This genus was erected after a taxonomic revision in 2006. These are...
Rican & KullanderSven 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....
2006
- Baileychromis
Baileychromis is a monotypic genus of cichlid fish. The single species, Baileychromis centropomoides, is endemic to Lake Tanganyika in east Africa.-References:...
Poll 1986
- Bathybates
Bathybates is a small genus of predatory cichlid fish. The genus is endemic to Lake Tanganyika in east Africa and contains 7 species.-Species:*Bathybates fasciatus Boulenger, 1901 *Bathybates ferox Boulenger, 1898...
BoulengerGeorge Albert Boulenger FRS was a Belgian-British zoologist who identified over 2000 new animal species, chiefly fish, reptiles and amphibians.-Life:...
1898
- Benitochromis
Benitochromis is a small genus of cichlid fishes that are endemic to riverine and lake habitats in Middle Africa...
Lamboj 2001
- Benthochromis
Benthochromis is a small genus of cichlid fish endemic to Lake Tanganyika in east Africa. There are three formally described species, and possibly several additional undescribed species.-Species:* Benthochromis horii Takahashi, 2008....
Poll 1986
- Biotodoma
Biotodoma is a small genus of cichlids. They are native to rivers in the Amazon, Orinoco and Essequibo basins in South America.-Species:*Biotodoma cupido – greenstreaked eartheater or cupid cichlid.*Biotodoma wavrini – Orinoco eartheater....
Eigenmann & Kennedy 1903
- Biotoecus
Biotoecus is a fish genus of cichlids from northern South America. These small cichlids do not surpass in length.-Species:*Biotoecus dicentrarchus – from the Orinoco Basin.*Biotoecus opercularis – from the northern part of the Amazon Basin...
Eigenmann & Kennedy 1903
- Boulengerochromis Pellegrin 1904
- Buccochromis
Buccochromis is a genus of haplochromine cichlids endemic to East Africa.It contains 7 species:* Buccochromis atritaeniatus* Buccochromis heterotaenia* Buccochromis lepturus – Slendertail Hap...
Eccles & Trewavas 1989
- Bujurquina
Bujurquina is a genus of cichlid fish endemic to South America. The genus contains 17 species.-Species:*Bujurquina apoparuana Kullander, 1986 *Bujurquina cordemadi Kullander, 1986 *Bujurquina eurhinus Kullander, 1986...
Kullander 1986
- Callochromis
Callochromis is a genus of cichlids, including the species C. macrops, C. melanostigma, C. pleurospilus and C. stappersi. All species occupy shallow, sandy bottom areas of Lake Tanganyika in East Africa, C. macrops and C. melanostigma attaining six inches in length, whereas C. pleurospilus and C....
Regan 1920
- Caprichromis
Caprichromis is a small genus of haplochromine cichlids endemic to Lake Malawi in East Africa. This genus contains noted paedophagous cichlids, specialising in the eating of eggs and fry of other cichlid species....
Eccles & Trewavas 1989
- Caquetaia
Caquetaia is a small genus of cichlid fishes from Central and South America. The genus currently contains four species.-Species:*Caquetaia kraussii Steindachner, 1878 *Caquetaia myersi Schultz, 1944...
Fowler 1945
- Cardiopharynx
Cardiopharynx is a monotypic cichlid genus. The single species, Cardiopharynx schoutedeni, is a semi-pelagic, schooling fish endemic to Lake Tanganyika in east Africa. This fish is purely freshwater, and prefers temperatures of 23 – 28°C. It can be deemed a tropical fish. It has a high...
Poll 1942
- Chaetobranchopsis
Chaetobranchopsis is a small genus of cichlid fishes from South America, where they are found in the Amazon, Paraná and Paraguay river basins. The genus currently contains two species.-Species:*Chaetobranchopsis australis Eigenmann & Ward, 1907...
SteindachnerFranz Steindachner was an Austrian zoologist.- Work and career :Being interested in natural history, Steindachner took up the study of fossil fishes on the recommendation of his friend Eduard Suess...
, 1875
- Chaetobranchus
Chaetobranchus is a small genus of cichlid fishes from South America. The two species are found in the Amazon Basin, Orinoco Basin and rivers in the Guianas....
HeckelJohann Jakob Heckel was an Austrian taxidermist, zoologist, and ichthyologist from Mannheim.Though not a formally trained zoologist he worked his way up through the ranks to eventually become the director of the Fish Collection at the Naturhistorisches Museum in Vienna...
, 1840
- Chalinochromis
Chalinochromis is a small and disputed cichlid genus from the subfamily Pseudocrenilabrinae; it contains just two species. These ray-finned fishes are endemic to Lake Tanganyika in Eastern Africa's Great Rift Valley. The scientific name refers to the bridle-like markings across the heads of members...
Poll 1974
- Champsochromis
Champsochromis is a small genus of cichlid fishes endemic to Lake Malawi in east Africa.The genus currently contains two species:* Champsochromis caeruleus* Champsochromis spilorhynchus-References: [2009]: . Retrieved 2009-OCT-03....
Boulenger 1915
- Cheilochromis Eccles & Trewavas 1989
- Chetia
Chetia is a genus of haplochromine cichlids endemic to riverine habitats in Africa.The genus currently contains six species:* Chetia brevicauda Bills & Weyl, 2002* Chetia brevis – Orange-fringed Largemouth...
Trewavas 1961
- Chilochromis Boulenger 1902
- Chilotilapia
Chilotilapia is a monotypic genus of cichlid fish. The single species, Chilotilapia rhoadesii, is called Malawi Bream due to its looks. But it is quite unrelated to the breams proper, which are Cypriniformes....
Boulenger 1908
- Chromidotilapia
Chromidotilapia is a genus of cichlid fishes. The genus contains 11 species. Of these, 9 are from Central Africa, one is from Liberia to Cameroon, while the final Chromidotilapia is a genus of cichlid fishes. The genus contains 11 species. Of these, 9 are from Central Africa, one (C. guentheri) is...
Boulenger 1898
- Cichla
Cichla is a genus of fifteen described species of fish from the family Cichlidae. Kullander & Ferreira described nine species in a recent paper 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...
Bloch & Schneider 1801
- Cichlasoma
Cichlasoma is a genus of fish in the cichlid family.The genus was previously very large, including cichlids from Texas, North America, through all of Central America to parts of South America....
Swainson 1839
- Cleithracara Kullander & Nijssen
Han Nijssen is a Dutch ichthyologist. He is curator at Zoölogisch Museum in Amsterdam.Nijssen has worked extensively with fish from South America, and is the author of several species, e.g. Corydoras weitzmani and Corydoras xinguensis....
1989
- Congochromis
Congochromis is a genus of cichlid fish containing 4 species....
Stiassny & Schliewen 2007
- Copadichromis
Copadichromis is a genus of haplochromine cichlids endemic to Lake Malawi in Eastern Africa. Many Copadichromis species are popular with aquarists who keep mbuna , as this genus is relatively peaceful in captivity.-Species:...
Eccles & Trewavas 1989
- Corematodus
Corematodus is a small genus of cichlids with only two species....
Boulenger 1897
- Crenicara
Crenicara is a small genus of cichlid fishes that are endemic to creeks and rivers in the Amazon and Essequibo basins in South America. These cichlids have several dark spots on the side of their body, and do not surpass in length.-Species:...
Steindachner 1875
- Crenicichla
Crenicichla is a genus of the cichlids family ; it contains the pike cichlids. It is the most speciose genus of South American cichlids, including approximately 115 species as of 2009; one or two species are on average described as new each year...
Heckel 1840
- Cryptoheros
Cryptoheros is a small genus of cichlid fishes from Central America and southeast Mexico. The genus currently contains 9 species. It includes species formerly included within the genus Archocentrus. The convict cichlid has sometimes been placed within the genus Cryptoheros as well, but is now...
Allgayer 2001
- Ctenochromis
Ctenochromis is a genus of haplochromine cichlids endemic to East Africa.At present, 5 living and one recently-extinct species are validly described in Ctenochromis:* Ctenochromis benthicola* Ctenochromis horei...
Pfeffer 1893
- Ctenopharynx
Ctenopharynx is a small genus of haplochromine cichlids from East Africa. Two of its species are endemic to Lake Malawi, while the third occurs in Lake Malawi and the upper reaches of the Shire River.The species are:...
Eccles & Trewavas 1989
- Cunningtonia Boulenger 1906
- Cyathochromis Trewavas 1935
- Cyathopharynx
Cyathopharynx is a monotypic genus of cichlid fish. The single species, Cyathopharynx furcifer, originally described by Boulenger as Paratilapia furcifer in 1898 but later reclassified as Cyathopharynx furcifer, is endemic to Lake Tanganyika in east Africa...
Regan 1920
- Cyclopharynx
Cyclopharynx is a small genus of two species of cichlid fish. Both species are endemic to the Fwa river, in the Kasai-Oriental province, Democratic Republic of the Congo in west Africa.-References:...
Poll 1948
- Cynotilapia
Cynotilapia is a genus of fishes from the family Cichlidae. The genus was described by the British ichthyologist Charles Tate Regan in 1922. All fishes in these genus form part of the mbuna flock, the rock-dwelling fishes of Lake Malawi, in the rift valley of East Africa...
Regan 1922
- Cyphotilapia
Cyphotilapia is a small genus of cichlids with only two species. Both species are endemic to Lake Tanganyika, with C. frontosa being roughly confined to the northern half of the lake and C. gibberosa being roughly confined to the southern half of the lake....
Regan 1920
- Cyprichromis
Cyprichromis is a genus of cichlids with five species. They are also known as the herring cichlids or sardine cichlids since they form large schools in the open water of Lake Tanganyika. Of the known species, only C. microlepidotus has been recorded outside Lake Tanganyika ....
Scheuermann 1977
- Cyrtocara
Cyrtocara is a monotypic genus of cichlid fish. The single species, Cyrtocara moorii, is endemic to Lake Malawi in east Africa. The species is popular among aquarium keepers where it is known as the humphead cichlid, blue dolphin cichlid, Malawi dolphin or simply as moorii.-Physical...
Boulenger 1902
- Danakilia
Danakilia is a genus of cichlid fish containing two species, namely Danakilia franchettii from the saline Lake Giulietti in Ethiopia, and Danakilia dinicolai from the saline Lake Abaeded in Eritrea....
Thys van den Audenaerde 1969
- Dicrossus
Dicrossus is a genus of small cichlids fishes. They are native to rivers in the Amazon and Orinoco basins in South America. These cichlids have several dark spots on the side of their body...
Steindachner 1875
- Dimidiochromis
Dimidiochromis is a genus of haplochromine cichlids endemic to Lake Malawi in East Africa. All of its species are elongated in shape and predatory on smaller fishes.At present, four species are placed in Dimidiochromis:...
Eccles & Trewavas 1989
- Diplotaxodon
Diplotaxodon is a small genus of seven formally described, as well as a number of undescribed, deep-water species of cichlid fish endemic to Lake Malawi in east Africa. These fishes represent a remarkable adaptive radiation of offshore and deep-water adapted fish descended from ancestral shallow...
Trewavas 1935
- Divandu
Divandu is a monotypic genus of cichlid fish. The single species, Divandu albimarginatus, is endemic to the Republic of Congo and Gabon in Africa.-References:...
Lamboj & Snoeks 2000
- Docimodus
Docimodus is a small genus of cichlid fish endemic to east Africa. The genus contains two species; Docimodus johnstoni endemic to Lake Malawi, Lake Malombe and the upper reaches of the Shire River and Docimodus evelynae which is limited in its distribution to Lake Malawi.-References:FishBase Eds....
Boulenger 1897
- Eclectochromis
Eclectochromis is a small genus of haplochromine cichlids endemic to Lake Malawi in East Africa.At present, it contains a mere two species:* Eclectochromis lobochilus* Eclectochromis ornatus-References: [2009]: . Retrieved 2009-OCT-03....
Eccles & Trewavas 1989
- Ectodus Boulenger 1898
- Eretmodus
Eretmodus is a monotypic genus of cichlid fish endemic to Lake Tanganyika in East Africa. The genus currently contains one species, Eretmodus cyanostictus.-References:...
Boulenger 1898
- Etia
Etia is a genus of cichlid fish with only a single species, Etia nguti. This fairly small cichlid is endemic to Cameroon in Central Africa. It is one of the most singular Pseudocrenilabrinae; no really close relatives are known.-References:...
Schliewen & Stiassny 2003
- Etroplus
Etroplus is a small genus of cichlids with only three species. They are found in southern India and Sri Lanka, where they are the only native cichlids.Their closest living relatives are Paretroplus from Madagascar...
CuvierGeorges Chrétien Léopold Dagobert Cuvier or Jean Léopold Nicolas Frédéric Cuvier , known as Georges Cuvier, was a French naturalist and zoologist...
1830
- Exochochromis Eccles & Trewavas 1989
- Fossorochromis Eccles & Trewavas 1989
- Gaurochromis Greenwood 1980
- Genyochromis Trewavas 1935
- Geophagus
Geophagus is a genus of cichlids from South America. The genus is currently polyphyletic and in need of further taxonomic revision. Some geophagine cichlids previously included in this genus have been reallocated to Gymnogeophagus or Satanoperca...
Heckel 1840
- Gephyrochromis
Gephyrochromis is a small genus of cichlid fish. The genus contains two species; Gephyrochromis lawsii and Gephyrochromis moorii, both of which are endemic to Lake Malawi in east Africa.-References:...
Boulenger 1901
- Gnathochromis
Gnathochromis is a small genus of sand sifting cichlid fish endemic to Lake Tanganyika in east Africa. The genus has only two described species.-Species:*Gnathochromis permaxillaris .*Gnathochromis pfefferi ....
Poll 1981
- Gobiocichla
Gobiocichla is a small genus of cichlids with only two species.These species are Gobiocichla wonderi and Gobiocichla ethelwynnae.-References:* http://www.cichlid-forum.com/articles/gobio_wonderi_pt1.php...
Kanazawa 1951 |
Grammatotria Boulenger 1899
Greenwoodochromis Greenwoodochromis is a small genus of cichlids with only two species....
Poll 1983
GuianacaraGuianacara is a small genus of cichlid fish endemic to South America.-Species:There are currently seven described species of Guianacara.*Guianacara cuyunii...
Kullander & Nijssen 1989
GymnogeophagusGymnogeophagus is a genus of cichlid fishes from South America, where they found are known from various river basins in southern Brazil, Paraguay, Uruguay and northern Argentina. They are part of a group popularly known as eartheaters.-Species:...
Miranda Ribeiro 1918
HaplochromisHaplochromis is a ray-finned fish genus in the family Cichlidae. It has been used as the default "wastebin taxon" for Pseudocrenilabrinae cichlids of the East African Rift, and as such became the "largest" fish "genus"...
Hilgendorf 1888
HaplotaxodonHaplotaxodon is a genus of fish in the Cichlidae family, endemic to Lake Tanganyika.It contains the following species:* Haplotaxodon microlepis* Haplotaxodon trifasciatus...
Boulenger 1906
Hemibates Regan 1920
HemichromisHemichromis is a genus of fishes from the cichlid family, known in the aquarium trade as jewel cichlids. Jewel cichlids are native to Africa...
Peters 1857
Hemitaeniochromis Eccles & Trewavas 1989
Hemitilapia Boulenger 1902
HerichthysHerichthys is a small genus of cichlid fishes. Most are endemic to Mexico, but H. cyanoguttatus is also found in southern Texas , and has been introduced to central Texas and Florida...
Baird & Girard 1854
Heroina Kullander, 1996
HerosHeros is a genus which includes several fish species in the Cichlidae family. They are native to rivers in the Amazon and Orinoco basins in South America...
Heckel, 1840
Heterochromis Regan 1922
Hoplarchus KaupJohann Jakob Kaup was a German naturalist.-Biography:He was born at Darmstadt. After studying at Göttingen and Heidelberg he spent two years at Leiden, where his attention was specially devoted to the amphibians and fishes. He then returned to Darmstadt as an assistant in the grand ducal museum,...
,1860
Hoplotilapia Hilgendorf 1888
HypselecaraHypselecara is a small genus of cichlid fish with only two species. They are native to the Amazon and Orinoco basins in South America. H. temporalis is a relatively common aquarium fish known in the aquarium trade as the chocolate cichild....
Kullander 1986
HypsophrysHypsophrys is a small genus of cichlid fishes from Central America. The genus currently contains 2 species. It originally contained just H. nicaraguensis but was revised in 2007 to include the poor man's tropheus, or neet, H...
AgassizJean Louis Rodolphe Agassiz was a Swiss paleontologist, glaciologist, geologist and a prominent innovator in the study of the Earth's natural history. He grew up in Switzerland and became a professor of natural history at University of Neuchâtel...
1859
Interochromis Yamaoka, Hori & Kuwamura 1988
IodotropheusIodotropheus is a small genus of cichlid fish endemic to Lake Malawi in east Africa. It currently includes three species. The lavender mbuna, Iodotropheus sprengerae, also known as the rusty cichlid, is the most commonly encountered member of the genus in the aquarium trade.-Species:** Iodotropheus...
Oliver & Loiselle 1972
IranocichlaIranocichla hormuzensis is a species of mouthbrooding fish from the cichlid family. It is the only member of its genus, and reaches a length of about . It is restricted to freshwater and brackish habitats in southern Iran. It is the only species of cichlid native to this country, and among the few...
Coad 1982
IvanacaraRomer & Hahn 2006
JulidochromisJulidochromis is a genus of cichlids in the subfamily Pseudocrenilabrinae. They are commonly called julies and are endemic to Lake Tanganyika in eastern Africa. This genus includes at least 5 species, each with a number of subspecies and local variants of uncertain taxonomic status...
Boulenger 1898
Katria Stiassny & Sparks 2006
Konia Trewavas 1972
Krobia Kullander & Nijssen 1989
LabeotropheusLabeotropheus is a small genus of cichlid fish endemic to Lake Malawi in eastern Africa. It includes at least two species, each with a number of subspecies or races. Further taxonomic work is required to determine how many species exist. These cichlids are popular ornamental fish and are ideally...
AhlChristoph Gustav Ernst Ahl was a German zoologist.He was the director of the department of ichthyology and herpetology in the Museum für Naturkunde....
1926
LabidochromisLabidochromis is a genus of cichlid fishes that are endemic to Lake Malawi in East Africa. The genus includes 18 formally described species, and several yet undescribed species. It includes a number of species commonly kept in cichlid aquariums such as L. caeruleus...
Trewavas 1935
Labrochromis Greenwood 1980
LaetacaraLaetacara is a small genus of five species of fish, endemic to soft, acidic freshwater habitats in South America. Laetacara is part of the family Cichlidae and is included in subfamily Cichlasomatinae. The genus is also collectively known as the smiling acaras. The range of the genus extends from...
Kullander 1986
LamprologusLamprologus is a genus of fishes from the cichlid family. They are native to Lake Tanganyika and the Congo River Basin in Africa. The type species for this genus is Lamprologus congoensis, a species from the Congo River. The genus is under some revision and may eventually be restricted to these...
Schilthuis 1891
LepidiolamprologusLepidiolamprologus is a small genus of cichlids endemic to Lake Tanganyika in eastern Africa. It is closely related to Altolamprologus....
Pellegrin 1904
LestradeaLestradea is a genus of fishes in the cichlid family. The two species are endemic to Lake Tanganyika in East Africa....
Poll 1943
LethrinopsLethrinops is a genus of haplochromine cichlids endemic to Lake Malawi in East Africa. Particularly in the aquarium hobby, they are known as the sandeaters or sandsifters.-References: [2009]: . Retrieved 2009-OCT-03....
Regan 1922
Lichnochromis Trewavas 1935
LimbochromisLimbochromis is a small genus of cichlids with only two species....
Greenwood 1987
LimnochromisLimnochromis is a small genus of cichlid fish endemic to Lake Tanganyika in east Africa. The genus has only three described species.-Species:* Limnochromis abeelei Poll, 1949 * Spangled cichlid, Limnochromis auritus Boulenger, 1901...
Regan 1920
LimnotilapiaLimnotilapia is a genus of fish in the Cichlidae family.It contains the following species:* Limnotilapia dardennii...
Regan 1920
Lipochromis Greenwood 1980
LithochromisLithochromis is a genus of fish in the Cichlidae family.It contains the following species:* Lithochromis rubripinnis* Lithochromis rufus* Lithochromis xanthopteryx...
Lippitsch & Seehausen 1998
LobochilotesLobochilotes is a genus of fish in the Cichlidae family.It contains the following species:* Lobochilotes labiatus...
Boulenger 1915
Macropleurodus Regan 1922
MaylandiaMaylandia or Metriaclima is a genus of haplochromine cichlids endemic to Lake Malawi in East Africa. They belong to the mbuna haplochromines....
Meyer & Foerster 1984
MazaruniaMazarunia is a genus of cichlid fish from the Mazaruni River in Guyana. The single species, Mazarunia mazarunii, is a dwarf cichlid that reaches about in length....
Kullander 1990
MbipiaMbipia is a ray-finned fish genus in the family CichlidaeIt contains the following species:* Mbipia lutea* Mbipia mbipi...
Lippitsch & Seehausen 1998
MchengaMchenga is a small genus of haplochromine cichlids endemic to East Africa.At present, only six species are placed here:* Mchenga conophoros * Mchenga cyclicos...
Stauffer & Konings, 2006
MelanochromisMelanochromis is a genus of haplochromine cichlids endemic to Lake Malawi in Eastern Africa. It was established by Ethylwynn Trewavas in 1935. Ecologically, they belong to the rock-dwelling mbuna cichlids of Lake Malawi....
Trewavas, 1935
MesonautaMesonauta is a small genus of six species of fish, endemic to soft, acidic freshwater habitats in South America. Mesonauta is part of the family Cichlidae and is included in subfamily Cichlasomatinae...
GüntherAlbert Karl Ludwig Gotthilf Günther FRS, also Albert Charles Lewis Gotthilf Günther , was a German-born British zoologist, ichthyologist, and herpetologist....
, 1862
Microchromis Johnson 1975
MikrogeophagusMicrogeophagus is a genus of small cichlids that only includes two species: M. ramirezi and M. altispinosa. Both species are popular with aquarists, especially M. ramirezi...
Meulengracht-Madson 1968
MyakaThe Myaka is a critically endangered species of fish in the Cichlidae family. It belongs to the monotypic genus Myaka, and is fairly enigmatic, leading some to place it in the Haplochromini instead of Tilapiini. It is endemic to Lake Barombi Mbo in western Cameroon...
Trewavas 1972
Mylacochromis Greenwood 1980
MylochromisMylochromis is a genus of haplochromine cichlids endemic to Lake Malawi in Eastern Africa.It contains the following species:* Mylochromis anaphyrmus* Mylochromis balteatus* Mylochromis chekopae Turner & Howarth, 2001...
Regan 1920
Naevochromis Eccles & Trewavas 1989
NandopsisNandopsis is a small genus of cichlid fishes found in lakes, streams and rivers in Cuba and Hispaniola. If disregarding Trinidad and Tobago , Nandopsis are the only cichlids native to the Antilles.-Species:The genus currently contains three species, although some...
Gill, 1862
NannacaraNannacara is a genus of small freshwater cichlid fish endemic to South America. The genus is part of the Cichlasomatini tribe of the Cichlasomatinae subfamily. In the aquarium hobby, the fish is considered a dwarf cichlid along with Apistogramma, Mikrogeophagus, and Dicrossus species...
Regan 1905
NanochromisNanochromis is a genus of cichlids containing eight described species. These small fishes are endemic to the Congo River Basin in Central Africa.-Species:*Nanochromis consortus*Nanochromis minor*Nanochromis nudiceps...
Pellegrin 1904
NeochromisNeochromis is a ray-finned fish genus in the family CichlidaeIt contains the following species:* Neochromis gigas* Neochromis greenwoodi* Neochromis nigricans* Neochromis omnicaeruleus* Neochromis rufocaudalis...
Regan 1920
NeolamprologusNeolamprologus is a genus of cichlid fishes endemic to eastern Africa with all but one species occurring in Lake Tanganyika. It is the largest genus of cichlids in Lake Tanganyika and also the largest genus in the tribe Lamprologini, which includes Altolamprologus, Chalinochromis, Julidochromis, ...
Colombe & Allgayer 1985
NimbochromisNimbochromis is a small genus of haplochromine cichlids endemic to Lake Malawi in East Africa. They are known as sleeper cichlids or kaligono , due to their unique hunting behaviour....
Eccles & Trewavas 1989
NyassachromisNyassachromis is a genus of haplochromine cichlids endemic to East Africa. They are open-water mouthbrooders, an ecological niche known as utaka to locals.At present, 8 species are placed here:* Nyassachromis boadzulu...
Eccles & Trewavas 1989
OphthalmotilapiaOphthalmotilapia is a small genus of four cichlid species endemic to Lake Tanganyika in east Africa.-Species:*Ophthalmotilapia boops Boulenger, 1901 *Ophthalmotilapia heterodonta Poll & Matthes, 1962...
Pellegrin 1904
OreochromisOreochromis is a large genus of tilapiine cichlids, fishes endemic to Africa and the Middle East. Several species from this genus have been introduced far outside their native range, and are important in aquaculture...
Günther 1889
OrthochromisOrthochromis is a genus of haplochromine cichlids endemic to East Africa.At present, 14 species are placed here:* Orthochromis kalungwishiensis * Orthochromis kasuluensis* Orthochromis luichensis...
Greenwood 1954
OtopharynxOtopharynx is a genus of haplochromine cichlids endemic to Lake Malawi in Eastern Africa.It currently contains 14 accepted species, see Otopharynx-References: [2009]: . Retrieved 2009-OCT-03....
Regan 1920
Oxylapia Kiener & Maugé 1966
Pallidochromis Turner 1994
ParachromisParachromis is a genus of freshwater fishes from the family Cichlidae. The genus contains 5 species and is limited in its distribution to Central America. Some species occur in Lake Nicaragua and Lake Managua. All species are predatory and relatively large for cichlids.Parachromis friedrichsthalii...
Agassiz 1859
ParacyprichromisParacyprichromis is a small genus of cichlids with only two species. The genus is endemic to Lake Tanganyika in east Africa....
Poll 1986
ParalabidochromisParalabidochromis is a genus of fish in the Cichlidae family.It contains the following species:* Paralabidochromis beadlei* Paralabidochromis chromogynos* Paralabidochromis crassilabris* Paralabidochromis victoriae...
Greenwood 1956
Parananochromis Greenwood 1987
ParaneetroplusParaneetroplus is a small genus of cichlids with only three species. They are endemic to rivers on the Atlantic slope in Mexico....
Regan 1905 |
ParatilapiaParatilapia is a genus of cichlids with only two known species. They occur on Madagascar.Phylogenetic analsysis of DNA sequence and morphological data have hitherto been unable to resolve the relationships of the genus to satisfaction...
BleekerPieter Bleeker was a Dutch medical doctor and ichthyologist, famous for his work on the fishes of East Asia – Atlas Ichthyologique des Orientales Neerlandaises – which was published 1862–1877....
, 1868
ParetroplusParetroplus is a genus of fishes in the cichlid family, all of which are endemic to lakes and rivers of Madagascar. The vast majority are threatened and restricted to the northwestern part of the island. Only P. polyactis is found in the southern half of Madagascar and only P. polyactis and P....
Bleeker, 1868
PelmatochromisPelmatochromis is a small genus of fishes in the cichlid family. Of its three species, two are endemic to the Middle Africa, and one is endemic to tropical West Africa. Depending on the exact species, they reach about in length.-Species:...
Steindachner 1894
PelvicachromisThe genus Pelvicachromis includes a range of small , brightly coloured cichlids which occur in tropical West Africa and Central Africa. They typically inhabit soft, acidic water ....
Thys van den Audenaerde 1968
PerissodusPerissodus is a genus of fish in the Cichlidae family.It contains at least seven species:* Perissodus eccentricus* Perissodus elaviae* Perissodus hecqui* Perissodus microlepis* Perissodus multidentatus* Perissodus paradoxus...
Boulenger 1898
PeteniaPetenia is a monotypic cichlid genus. The single species, Petenia splendida, is a large predatory fish that occurs in Mexico, Guatemala and Belize.FishBase name: Bay snookMax. size: 50.0 cm TL Petenia is a monotypic cichlid genus. The single species, Petenia splendida, is a large (50 cm)...
Günther, 1862
PetrochromisPetrochromis is a small genus of seven formally described cichlid species, and at least 7 undescribed species, all endemic to Lake Tanganyika in east Africa.-Species:* Petrochromis famula Matthes & Trewavas, 1960...
Boulenger 1898
PetrotilapiaPetrotilapia is a genus of fish in the Cichlidae family.It contains the following species:* Petrotilapia chrysos* Petrotilapia genalutea* Petrotilapia nigra* Petrotilapia tridentiger...
Trewavas 1935
PharyngochromisPharyngochromis is a small genus of cichlid fishes endemic to East Africa.The genus currently contains two species:* Pharyngochromis acuticeps – Zambezi Bream...
Greenwood 1979
PlacidochromisPlacidochromis is a genus of cichlids endemic to Lake Malawi in Eastern Africa. They are part of the haplochromine lineage of Lake Malawi's cichlid taxa. Most Placidochromis species live in the open or sandy regions of the lake.-Species:...
Eccles & Trewavas 1989
Platytaeniodus Boulenger 1906
PlecodusPlecodus is a genus of fish in the Cichlidae family. All species are endemic to Lake Tanganyika. It contains the following species:* Plecodus elaviae* Plecodus multidentatus* Plecodus paradoxus* Plecodus straeleni...
Boulenger 1898
ProtomelasProtomelas is a genus of haplochromine cichlids endemic to Lake Malawi in East Africa. The genus is part of the haplochromine tribe and have maternal mouthbrooding and sexual dimorphism typical of this group...
Eccles & Trewavas 1989
PseudocrenilabrusPseudocrenilabrus is a small genus of haplochromine cichlids that are endemic to rivers and lakes in Central and Eastern Africa. These are small cichlids that, as suggested by the common names of the individual species, are mouthbrooders.-Species:...
Fowler 1934
PseudosimochromisPseudosimochromis is a genus of fish in the Cichlidae family.It contains the following species:* Pseudosimochromis curvifrons...
Nelissen 1977
PseudotropheusPseudotropheus is a genus of rock dwelling cichlids found in Lake Malawi. Like some other large cichlid genera, such as Cichlasoma, a number of related fishes have been recently re-assigned to different genera such as Tropheops or Maylandia...
Regan 1922
Pterochromis Trewavas 1973
PterophyllumPterophyllum is a small genus of freshwater fish from the family Cichlidae known to most aquarists as "Angelfish". All Pterophyllum species originate from the Amazon River, Orinoco River and Essequibo River basins in tropical South America...
Heckel 1840
PtychochromisPtychochromis is a genus of fishes from the cichlid family. They are found in rivers and lakes in Madagascar, and a single species can also be seen in brackish water. Most species in this genus are threatened, and P. onilahy is probably extinct. Most reach a length of , but P. grandidieri reaches...
Steindachner 1880
PtychochromoidesPtychochromoides is a genus of fish in the cichlid family from Madagascar. Of the tree described species, two are critically endangered and one was considered extinct until rediscovered in late 2010.-Species:...
Kiener & Mauge 1966
PundamiliaPundamilia is a small genus of haplochromine cichlids endemic to East Africa, primarily in Lake Victoria. FishBase includes them in Haplochromis while the IUCN treats them as distinct.At present, only four species are placed here:...
Seehausen & Lippitsch 1998
PunguThe pungu is a critically endangered species of fish in the Cichlidae family, and the only member of its genus. It is endemic to Lake Barombi Mbo in Cameroon. It is threatened because of pollution and sedimentation from human activities, and potentially also by large emissions of carbon dioxide ...
Trewavas 1972
PyxichromisPyxichromis is a ray-finned fish genus in the family Cichlidae.It contains the following species:* Pyxichromis orthostoma* Pyxichromis parorthostoma...
Greenwood 1980
Reganochromis Whitley 1929
Retroculus Eigenmann & Bray 1894
RhamphochromisRhamphochromis is a genus of cichlid fish endemic to Lake Malawi in East Africa. The genus contains numerous species all of which are latterally compressed pursuit predators....
Regan 1922
RocioRocio is a small genus of cichlid fishes from Mexico and northern Central America. The genus currently contains 3 species. It was established in 2007 as the genus for the Jack Dempsey and its close relatives.-Species:...
Schmitter-Soto, 2007
SargochromisSargochromis is a genus of haplochromine cichlids endemic to East Africa.At present, 8 species are placed here:* Sargochromis carlottae – Rainbow Happy* Sargochromis codringtonii – Green Happy...
Regan 1920
SarotherodonSarotherodon is a genus of tilapiine cichlids, fishes endemic to Africa and the Middle East. A few species from this genus have been introduced far outside their native range, and are important in aquaculture. They mainly inhabit fresh and brackish water, but a few can live in salt water...
Rppell 1852
SatanopercaSatanoperca is a small genus of cichlid fishes from South America, where they are known from the Orinoco, Essequibo, Nickerie, Amazon, Paraná and Paraguay river basins...
Günther, 1862
Schubotzia Boulenger 1914
Schwetzochromis Poll 1948
SciaenochromisSciaenochromis is a genus of haplochromine cichlids endemic to Lake Malawi in East Africa. It includes at least 4 species. The species are popular in the aquarium hobby, most notably S. fryeri....
Eccles & Trewavas 1989
SerranochromisSerranochromis is a ray-finned fish genus in the family Cichlidae.It contains the following species:* Serranochromis janus* lowveld largemouth...
Regan 1920
SimochromisSimochromis is a genus of fish in the Cichlidae family.It contains the following species:* Simochromis babaulti* Simochromis diagramma* Simochromis margaretae* Simochromis marginatus* Simochromis pleurospilus...
Boulenger 1898
SpathodusSpathodus is a small genus of two cichlid species endemic to Lake Tanganyika in east Africa.-Species:*Spathodus erythrodon -Blue-Spotted Goby Cichlid [Boulenger, 1900] *Spathodus marlieri [Poll, 1950]-References:...
Boulenger 1900
SteatocranusSteatocranus is a small genus of rheophilic cichlid fish. Most are endemic to the Congo River Basin in DR Congo/Congo Brazzaville, although one species, S. irvinei, is restricted to the Volta River in Ghana....
Boulenger 1899
StigmatochromisStigmatochromis is a small genus of haplochromine cichlids that are endemic to Lake Malawi in East Africa.At present, only four species are placed here:* Stigmatochromis modestus* Stigmatochromis pholidophorus – Candle Hap...
Eccles & Trewavas 1989
StomatepiaStomatepia is a genus of fishes in the cichlid family. Its three species are all endemic to Lake Barombi Mbo in western Cameroon. They are critically endangered because of pollution and sedimentation due to human activities, and potentially also by large emissions of carbon dioxide from the lake's...
Trewavas 1962
Symphysodon Heckel 1840
TaeniacaraTaeniacara is a genus of cichlid fish from the Amazon Basin in South America. The single species, Taeniacara candidi, is a dwarf cichlid that reaches about in length....
Myers 1935
Taeniochromis Eccles & Trewavas 1989
TaeniolethrinopsTaeniolethrinops is a small genus of haplochromine cichlids endemic to East Africa.At present, only four validly described species are placed here:* Taeniolethrinops cyrtonotus* Taeniolethrinops furcicauda* Taeniolethrinops laticeps...
Eccles & Trewavas 1989
TahuantinsuyoaTahuantinsuyoa is a small genus of cichlids with only two species. They are endemic to the Amazon Basin in Peru....
Kullander 1991
TangachromisTangachromis is a genus of fish in the Cichlidae family.It contains the following species:* Tangachromis dhanisi...
Poll 1981
TanganicodusTanganicodus is a monotypic cichlid genus whose single representative, Tanganicodus irsacae, or the Spotfin Goby Cichlid, is endemic to Lake Tanganyika in east Africa.-References:...
Poll 1950
TeleocichlaTeleocichla is a small genus of seven cichlid formally described species and several undescribed species, endemic to the Amazon River Basin in South America. All species are rheophilic, and highly elongated in shape...
Kullander 1988
TeleogrammaTeleogramma is an African genus of cichlids with only four species. These dark and slender fishes barely reaches in length, and are restricted to rapids in the Congo River in DR Congo/Congo Brazzaville....
Boulenger 1899
TelmatochromisTelmatochromis is a small cichlid genus of the subfamily Pseudocrenilabrinae. These ray-finned fishes are endemic to Lake Tanganyika in East Africa.-Systematics:7 species are included here...
Boulenger 1898
TherapsTheraps is a small fish genus from the cichlidae family. They are endemic to Central America, ranging from Mexico to Panama. Several Theraps sp. have been found across the southern United States as invasive species....
Günther, 1862
ThoracochromisThoracochromis is a fish genus of haplochromine cichlids that are endemic to Africa. Most species are from rivers in Angola and Namibia, or the Congo River Basin in Central Africa, but one is from the Nile...
Greenwood 1979
ThorichthysThorichthys is a genus of cichlids from Central America. They have somewhat pointy heads and stripes down their body, and tend to inhabit slow-moving or standing water. The best-known species is Thorichthys meeki, the firemouth cichlid. Members of Thorichthys rarely exceed , making them popular...
MeekAlbert Stewart Meek was an English bird collector and naturalist. The name Alfred S. Meek which can be read in several publications is referred to Albert Stewart Meek.-Biography:...
1904
Thysochromis Daget 1988
TilapiaTilapia is a large genus of cichlid fishes endemic to Africa, except for a single species that also occurs in the Middle East. The vast majority of the species are from tropical Western and Middle Africa, but there are also a few species in Northern, Eastern and Southern Africa...
Smith, 1840 See also: Tilapiine cichlidsTilapia , is the common name for nearly a hundred species of cichlid fish from the tilapiine cichlid tribe. Tilapia inhabit a variety of fresh water habitats, including shallow streams, ponds, rivers and lakes. Historically, they have been of major importance in artisan fishing in Africa and the...
TomocichlaTomocichla is a genus of freshwater fishes in the cichlid family that is restricted to Central America. The genus Tomocichla contains two species, both of which live is fastmoving waters. The species within Tomocichla were formerly placed within the genus Theraps.* Tomocichla sieboldii Siebold's...
Regan 1908
TramitichromisTramitichromis is a small genus of haplochromine cichlid fish endemic to East Africa.At present, only five species are placed here:* Tramitichromis brevis* Tramitichromis intermedius* Tramitichromis lituris* Tramitichromis trilineata...
Eccles & Trewavas 1989
TrematocaraTrematocara is a genus of fish in the Cichlidae family endemic to Lake Tanganyika.It contains the following species:* Trematocara caparti* Trematocara kufferathi* Trematocara macrostoma* Trematocara marginatum...
Boulenger 1899
TrematocranusTrematocranus is a small genus of haplochromine cichlids endemic to East Africa.At present, only three validly described species are placed here:* Trematocranus labifer* Trematocranus microstoma – Pointedhead Haplo...
Trewavas 1935
Triglachromis Poll & Thys van den Audenaerde 1974
TristramellaTristramella is a genus of fishes in the Cichlidae family. The four species in this genus are restricted to Israel and Syria, where they are among the relatively few native cichlids .Tristramella intermedia and T...
Trewavas 1942
TropheusTropheus is a small genus of six species of cichlid fish endemic to Lake Tanganyika in East Africa. The genus Tropheus is widespread across all regions of lake Tanganyika, from Burundi in the North to Zambia in the South.Males and females are relatively similar but do display obvious sexual...
Boulenger 1898
TylochromisTylochromis is a genus of African fishes in the Cichlidae family comprising 18 species. They are the only members of the tribe Tylochromini...
Regan 1920
TyrannochromisTyrannochromis is a small genus of haplochromine cichlids endemic to East Africa.At present, only four validly described species are placed here:* Tyrannochromis macrostoma* Tyrannochromis maculiceps * Tyrannochromis nigriventer...
Eccles & Trewavas 1989
UaruUaru is a small genus of cichlid fishes with only two species. The name Uaru comes from the Amazon word for toad. The genus occurs in blackwater and whitewater habitats in the upper Orinoco and Rio Negro rivers of the Amazon basin. U. amphiacanthoides is frequently available as a food fish in...
Heckel 1840
VariabilichromisVariabilichromis is a monotypic genus of fish in the family Cichlidae which occurs in Lake Tanganyika, of the rift lakes in Eastern Africa. The single species, Variabilichromis moorii is a small ovate bodied fish named for an early collector of fish from the lake, J. Moore. Juveniles are lighter in...
Colombe & Allgayer 1985
ViejaVieja is a genus of fish from the family Cichlidae. The geographic distribution of the genus is limited to Central America, primarily Mexico, Guatemala and Nicaragua. In general Vieja are high bodied cichlids which grow to between 15-35 cm . There are 16 species of Vieja currently described...
Fernandez-Yepez 1969
Xenochromis Boulenger 1899
XenotilapiaXenotilapia is a genus of 13 cichlid species endemic to Lake Tanganyika in east Africa.-Species:* Xenotilapia bathyphilus Poll, 1956 * Xenotilapia boulengeri Poll, 1942 * Xenotilapia burtoni Poll, 1951...
Boulenger 1899
Yssichromis Greenwood 1980 |
Further reading
- Barlow, G. W. (2000). The Cichlid fishes. Cambridge MA: Perseus Publishing.: National Museum of Natural History, Washington, D.C., 2004-05-11).
External links