Cichlids
Common freshwater angelfish, Pterophyllum scalare
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Chordata Class: Actinopterygii Order: Perciformes Family: Cichlidae
Subfamilies
Astronotinae Cichlasomatinae Cichlinae Etroplinae Geophaginae Heterochromidinae Paratilapiinae Pseudocrenilabrinae Ptychochrominae Retroculinae For genera, see below. Pterophyllum is a small Genus of freshwater fish from the family Cichlidae known to most aquarists as "Angelfish" Chordates ( Phylum Chordata) are a group of Animals that includes the Vertebrates together with several closely related Invertebrates The Actinopterygii (the plural form of Actinopterygius) comprise the class of the ray-finned fishes. The Perciformes, also called the Percomorphi or Acanthopteri, include about 40% of all bony Fish and are the largest order of vertebrates. In Biological classification, family ( Latin Cichlasomatinae is a subfamily in the cichlid family of fishes Geophaginae is a Cichlid subfamily that includes the threadfin acara Paratilapia is a small Genus of Cichlids with only two known species The Pseudocrenilabrinae is a Subfamily in the cichlid family of fishes to which according to the last studies of Sparks & Smith (2004 belong all the African A genus (plural genera from Γένος Latin genus "descent family type gender" is a low-level Taxonomic

Cichlids (pronounced /ˈsɪklɪd/) are fishes from the family Cichlidae in the order Perciformes. Fish are aquatic Vertebrate animals that are typically ectothermic (previously Cold-blooded) covered with scales, and equipped with two In Biological classification, family ( Latin The Perciformes, also called the Percomorphi or Acanthopteri, include about 40% of all bony Fish and are the largest order of vertebrates. The family Cichlidae, a major family of perciform fish, is both large and diverse. There are at least 1300 scientifically described species,^[1] making it one of the three largest vertebrate families. Vertebrates are members of the Subphylum Vertebrata, Chordates with backbones or spinal columns The grouping sometimes includes Numerous new species are discovered annually, and many species remain undescribed. The actual number of species is therefore unclear, with estimates varying between 1300 and 3000 species,^[2] and one source suggesting 1900 species. ^[3] Cichlids span a wide range of body sizes, from species as small as 2. 5 centimetres (1. A centimetre ( American spelling: centimeter, symbol cm) is a unit of Length in the Metric system, equal to one hundredth 0 in) in length (e. Inches redirects here To see the Les Savy Fav album see Inches. g. female Neolamprologus multifasciatus ) to much larger species approaching 1 metre (3 ft) in length (e. Neolamprologus multifasciatus is one of the small shell-dwelling Cichlids endemic to Lake Tanganyika. The metre or meter is a unit of Length. It is the basic unit of Length in the Metric system and in the International A foot (plural feet or foot; symbol or abbreviation ft or sometimes &prime – the prime symbol) is a non-SI unit g. Boulengerochromis and Cichla). Boulengerochromis is a Monotypic Genus of Cichlid fish The single species Boulengerochromis microlepis, is arguably the largest Cichla is a Genus of fifteen described Species of fish from the family Cichlidae. As a group, cichlids exhibit a similarly wide diversity of body shapes, ranging from strongly laterally compressed species (such as Altolamprologus, Pterophyllum, and Symphysodon) through to species that are cylindrical and highly elongate (such as Julidochromis, Teleogramma, Teleocichla, Crenicichla, and Gobiocichla). Altolamprologus is a small Genus of pseudocrenilabrine Cichlids endemic to Lake Tanganyika in eastern Africa Pterophyllum is a small Genus of freshwater fish from the family Cichlidae known to most aquarists as "Angelfish" Discus ( Symphysodon spp are a genus of three species of freshwater cichlid Fishes native to the Amazon River basin Julidochromis is a Genus of Cichlids in the Subfamily Pseudocrenilabrinae. Teleogramma is a small Genus of Cichlids with only four species Teleocichla is a small Genus of seven Cichlid species endemic to the Amazon River Basin in South America. Crenicichla is a Genus of Cichlids It includes about 75 species and is the most speciose genus of cichlids Gobiocichla is a small Genus of Cichlids with only two species ^[4] Generally, however, cichlids tend to be of medium size, ovate in shape and slightly laterally compressed, and generally very similar to the North American sunfishes in terms of morphology, behaviour, and ecology. The sunfishes are a family ( Centrarchidae) of freshwater Ray-finned fish belonging to the order Perciformes. ^[5]

Many cichlids, particularly the tilapias, are important food fishes, while others are valued game fish (eg. Tilapia (təˌlɑpiə is the common name for nearly a hundred Species of Cichlid Fishes from the Tilapiine cichlid tribe Cichla species). Cichla is a Genus of fifteen described Species of fish from the family Cichlidae. Many species, including the angelfish, oscars, and discus, are also highly valued in the aquarium trade. Pterophyllum is a small Genus of freshwater fish from the family Cichlidae known to most aquarists as "Angelfish" Astronotus ocellatus is a species of Fish from the Cichlid family known under a variety of common names including oscar, tiger Discus ( Symphysodon spp are a genus of three species of freshwater cichlid Fishes native to the Amazon River basin An aquarium (plural aquariums or aquaria) is a Vivarium consisting of at least one transparent side in which Water -dwelling Plants ^[4][6] Cichlids are also the family of vertebrates with the largest number of endangered species, most of these found in the haplochromine group. An endangered species is a population of an organism which is at risk of becoming Extinct because it is either few in numbers or threatened by changing environmental or predation The haplochromine cichlids, Subfamily Haplochrominae are a grouping of genera including Haplochromis plus a number of closely related genera ^[7] Cichlids are particularly well known for having evolved rapidly into a large number of closely related but morphologically diverse species within large lakes, particularly Tanganyika, Victoria, Malawi, and Edward,. An adaptive radiation is a rapid Evolutionary radiation characterized by an increase in the morphological and ecological diversity of a single rapidly diversifying lineage In Evolutionary biology, a species flock is a diverse group of closely related Species in an isolated area Lake Tanganyika is a large Lake in central Africa (3° 20' to 8° 48' South and from 29° 5' to 31° 15' East Lake Victoria or Victoria Nyanza (also known as Ukerewe and Nalubaale) is one of the Great Lakes of Africa. Lake Malawi (also known as Lake Nyasa, Lake Nyassa, Lake Niassa, and Lago Niassa in Mozambique) is the most southerly Lake Lake Edward or Edward Nyanza is the smallest of the Great Lakes of Africa. ^[8][9] The diversity of cichlids in the African Great Lakes is important for the study of speciation in evolution. ^[10] Many cichlids that have been accidentally or deliberately released into freshwaters outside of their natural range have become nuisance species, for example tilapia in the southern United States. An introduced species (also known as naturalized species or exotic species) is an Organism that is not indigenous to a given location but Tilapia (təˌlɑpiə is the common name for nearly a hundred Species of Cichlid Fishes from the Tilapiine cichlid tribe ^[11]

Anatomy and appearance

Relationships within the Labrodei. ^[12]

Cichlids are members of a group of perciform fish known as the Labroidei alongside the wrasses Labridae, damselfish Pomacentridae, and surfperches Embiotocidae. The Perciformes, also called the Percomorphi or Acanthopteri, include about 40% of all bony Fish and are the largest order of vertebrates. Labroidei is a Suborder of the Perciformes, the largest order of fish The wrasses are a family, Labridae, of marine Fish, many of which are brightly colored Pomacentridae is a family of Perciform fish comprising the Damselfishes and Clownfishes They are exclusively marine (rarely Brackish The surfperches are a family Embiotocidae, of Perciform fishes ^[12] This very large grouping shares a single key trait: the fusion of the lower pharyngeal bones 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 labour between the "true jaws" (mandibles) and the "pharyngeal jaws". The mandible (from Latin mandibula, "jawbone" or inferior maxillary bone forms the lower Jaw and holds the lower teeth in place Cichlids in particular have evolved to be very efficient feeders that are able to capture and process a very wide variety of food items and this is assumed to be one reason why they are so diverse (see section on diet below). Cichlids (ˈsɪklɪd are Fish from the family Cichlidae in the order Perciformes. ^[4] Cichlids have a great variability in body shape, ranging from compressed and disc-shaped (such as Symphysodon) to elongate and cylindrical (such as Crenicichla ). Discus ( Symphysodon spp are a genus of three species of freshwater cichlid Fishes native to the Amazon River basin Crenicichla is a Genus of Cichlids It includes about 75 species and is the most speciose genus of cichlids ^[13]

The particular features of cichlids that distinguish them from the other Labroidei include:^[1]

• A single nostril on each side of the forehead instead of two.
• No bony shelf below the orbit of the eye.
• The lateral line organ is divided 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 Teleogramma and Gobiocichla). In Fish, the lateral line is a Sense organ used to detect movement and vibration in the surrounding water Teleogramma is a small Genus of Cichlids with only four species Gobiocichla is a small Genus of Cichlids with only two species
• A distinctively shaped otolith. An otolith, (οτο- oto-, ear + λιθος lithos, a stone also called statoconium or otoconium is a structure in the Saccule
• The small intestine leaves the stomach from its left side, not from its right side as in other Labroidei. In Biology the small Intestine is the part of the Gastrointestinal tract (gut between the Stomach and the Large intestine, and comprises In Human anatomy, the stomach is a J-shaped hollow muscular organ of the Gastrointestinal tract involved in the second phase of Digestion, following

Taxonomy

Kullander (1998) recognises eight subfamilies of cichlids: the Astronotinae, Cichlasomatinae, Cichlinae, Etroplinae, Geophaginae, Heterochromidinae, Pseudocrenilabrinae and Retroculinae. In Biological classification, family ( Latin Cichlasomatinae is a subfamily in the cichlid family of fishes Geophaginae is a Cichlid subfamily that includes the threadfin acara The Pseudocrenilabrinae is a Subfamily in the cichlid family of fishes to which according to the last studies of Sparks & Smith (2004 belong all the African ^[3] Nelson (2006), however, indicates that cichlid taxonomy is still greatly debated, and despite these attempts, classification of genera cannot yet be accurately given. A genus (plural genera from Γένος Latin genus "descent family type gender" is a low-level Taxonomic ^[13] A comprehensive system of assigning species to monophyletic genera is still lacking, and there is not complete agreement on what genera should be recognized in this family. In Biology, a species is one of the basic units of Biological classification and a Taxonomic rank. A clade is a taxonomic group comprising a single Common ancestor and all the descendants of that ancestor ^[13]

As an example of the extant problems in Cichlid taxonomy, Kullander published a phylogeny of the Cichlidae (details of which can be found here) in which the African genus Heterochromis ended up being placed phylogenetically within Neotropical Cichlds, although later papers arrived at different conclusions. In Biogeography, Neotropic or Neotropical refers to one of the world's eight terrestrial Ecozones This ecozone includes South and Central America the Other extant problems (mentioned in the following paragraph) centre upon the identity of the putative common ancestor for the Lake Victoria superflock, and the precise ancestral lineages of the Tanganyikan Cichlids. However, the research is active and intensive (see below for just two of many recent papers), with new papers expected in the immediate future that may resolve some of the outstanding questions.

The paper Multilocus Phylogeny of Cichlid Fishes (Pisces: Perciformes): Evolutionary Comparison of Microsatellite and Single-Copy Nuclear Loci by Streelman, Zardoya, Meyer and Karl (1998) (Mol. Biol. Evol. 15(7):798–808. 1998, paper available as PDF here) provides comparisons between the phylogeny (due to Stiassny, 1991) as determined using morphological characteristics, and two maximum-pasrimony bootstrap consensus trees based upon analyses of two different gene loci, along with majority-rule trees and other similar phylogenetic trees based upon assorted gene locus analyses. There are some extant differences between the assorted trees at the genus level that require resolution, though the consensus from the various nuclear and mitochondrial DNA analyses in this and other papers is that the Cichlidae as a family is monophyletic. Further insights into the attractiveness of Cichlid taxonomy as a fertile area of research is given by the paper The species flocks of East African cichlid fishes: recent advances in molecular phylogenetics and population genetics by Salzburger and Meyer (Naturwissenschaften (2004) 91:277–290, paper available as PDF here), in which the advances made in the analysis of the phylogeny of the Lake Victoria superflock (among other East African Cichlids) is discussed in depth.

One problem that resulted in a major upheaval of Cichlid taxonomy was highlighted by Dr Humphrey Greenwood of the Natural History Museum, London, in a paper in 1977 (cited in TFH magazine, August 1977, with a follow up letter by Dr Greenwood in the November 1977 issue complaining about poor reportage of his work). Dentition (characteristics of tooth shape and arrangement) had been used prior to this date as classifying characteristics, which Greenwood demonstrated was invalid upon phylogenetic grounds because in many Cichlid species, dentition is an environmentally plastic characteristic (tooth shape changes in numerous species with age, due to wear etc), and cannot be relied upon universally across the family as a diagnostic characteristic upon which to base phylogenetic judgements. It is in the light of this that Cichlid taxonomy has undergone major revisions in the 30-plus years since, with the advent of genome sequencing and other technologies adding to the ever-growing body of data resulting in the still-fluid state of Cichlid taxonomy at the genus level.

Range and habitat

Tilapia mariae, caught on a hook and line, in Australia. Description The spotted tilapia ( Tilapia mariae) is a fresh and Brackish water Fish of the Cichlid family7 For a topic outline on this subject see List of basic Australia topics. Originally from Africa, the species established feral populations in Australia. ^[14]

Cichlids are the most species-rich non-Ostariophysan family in freshwaters worldwide. Ostariophysi is the second-largest Superorder of Fish. Members of this superorder are called ostariophysans. Freshwater is a word that refers to bodies of water such as Ponds lakes rivers and streams containing low concentrations of dissolved Salts and other Total dissolved They are mainly freshwater fish that are most diverse in Africa and South America. South America is a Continent of the Americas, situated entirely in the Western Hemisphere and mostly in the Southern Hemisphere, with a It is estimated that there will be at least 1600 species in Africa alone when all are discovered and described. ^[13] Substantial numbers are also found in Central America from Panama to the Mexican portion of North America, with approximately 120 species, as far north as the Rio Grande in southern Texas, and Madagascar has its own distinctive fauna of cichlids phylogenetically only distantly related to those on the African mainland. Texas ( is a state geographically located in the South Central United States and is also known as the Lone Star State. Madagascar, or Republic of Madagascar (older name Malagasy Republic) is an Island nation in the Indian Ocean off the southeastern ^[1][15] Endemic cichlids are largely absent in Asia except for four species in the Jordan Valley in the Middle East, one in Iran, and three in India and Sri Lanka. Endemism is the Ecological state of being unique to a place Endemic species are not naturally found elsewhere The Middle East is a Subcontinent with no clear boundaries often used as a synonym to Near East, in opposition to Far East. For a topic outline on this subject see List of basic Iran topics. India, officially the Republic of India (भारत गणराज्य inc-Latn Bhārat Gaṇarājya; see also other Indian languages) is a country Sri Lanka, officially the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka ( Sinhalese:, இலங்கை known as Ceylon before 1972 is an Island ^[13] There are three species found in Cuba and Hispaniola. The Republic of Cuba (ˈkjuːbə or) consists of the island of Cuba (the largest and second-most populous island of the Greater Antilles) Isla de la Hispaniola (from Spanish, La Española) is the second-largest and most populous Island of the Antilles, lying between the islands of Europe, Australia, Antarctica, and North America north of the Rio Grande River drainage, do not have any native cichlids, although where environmental conditions are suitable, for example in Florida, Mexico (which also has several native species), Japan and northern Australia, feral populations of cichlids have become established as exotics. Introduced species|Weed Invasive species is a phrase with several definitions ^{[16][14][17][18][19][20][21]}

Cichlids are largely freshwater fish and are less commonly found in brackish and salt water habitats, though many species will tolerate brackish water for extended periods; Cichlasoma urophthalmus, for example, is equally at home in freshwater marshes and mangrove swamps, and can be found living and breeding in salt water environments such as the mangrove belts around barrier islands. The Maya cichlid, Cichlasoma urophthalmus, is a member of the Cichlidae family of Fish. Mangroves (generally are Trees and Shrubs that grow in saline coastal habitats in the Tropics and Subtropics. ^[4] Several species of tilapias (species of Tilapia, Sarotherodon, and Oreochromis) are euryhaline and can disperse along some brackish coastlines between rivers. Tilapia (təˌlɑpiə is the common name for nearly a hundred Species of Cichlid Fishes from the Tilapiine cichlid tribe Sarotherodon is a Genus of Tilapiine Cichlids Fishes endemic to Africa and Israel Oreochromis is a large Genus of Tilapiine Cichlids Fishes endemic to Africa Euryhaline organisms are able to adapt to a wide range of salinities ^[13] Only a few cichlids, however, are found primarily in brackish or salt water, most notably Etroplus maculatus, Etroplus suratensis, and Sarotherodon melanotheron. ^[22]

Diet

The bumblebee cichlid, Pseudotropheus crabro, is specialised in feeding on parasites from the catfish Bagrus meridionalis^[23]

Cichlids are astonishingly diverse in terms of diet. The bumblebee cichlid, Pseudotropheus crabro, is a Freshwater Fish of the cichlid family The kampango or kampoyo, Bagrus meridionalis, is a large territorial and predatory Catfish endemic to Lake Malawi, occurring from the lower Many are primarily herbivores feeding on algae (e. Herbivory is a form of Predation in which an Organism, known as a herbivore, consumes principally Autotrophs ref name=Campbell>Campbell Algae ( sing. alga are a large and diverse group of simple typically Autotrophic organisms ranging from Unicellular to Multicellular forms g. Petrochromis) and plants (e. Petrochromis is a small Genus of seven Cichlid species endemic to Lake Tanganyika in East Africa. Plants are living Organisms belonging to the kingdom Plantae. g. Etroplus suratensis) and small animals, particularly invertebrates, are only a small part of their diet. Some cichlids are detritivores and eat all types of organic material; among these species are the tilapiines of the genera Oreochromis, Sarotherodon, and Tilapia. Detritivores, also known as detritus feeders or saprophages, are Heterotrophs that obtain Nutrients by consuming Detritus (decomposing The Tilapiini is a tribe within the family Cichlidae commonly known as tilapiine cichlids. Oreochromis is a large Genus of Tilapiine Cichlids Fishes endemic to Africa Sarotherodon is a Genus of Tilapiine Cichlids Fishes endemic to Africa and Israel Tilapia is a large Genus of Cichlid fishes endemic to Africa The common name " Tilapia " is also used for

Other cichlids are predatory and eat little if any plant matter. A carnivore (ˈkɑrnɪvɔər meaning 'meat eater' ( Latin carne meaning 'flesh' and vorare meaning 'to devour' is any animal with a diet consisting These include generalists that catch a variety of small animals including other fishes and insect larvae (e. g. Pterophyllum), as well as variety of specialists. Pterophyllum is a small Genus of freshwater fish from the family Cichlidae known to most aquarists as "Angelfish" Trematocranus is a specialised snail-eater, while Pungu maclareni feeds on sponges. The word snail is a Common name that can be used for almost all members of the Molluscan class Gastropoda which have coiled shells in the The sponges or poriferans (from Latin porus "pore" and ferre "to bear" are Animals A number of cichlids feed on other fish, either whole or in part. Crenicichla are stealth-predators that lunge at small fish that pass by their hiding places, while Rhamphochromis are open water pursuit predators that chase down their prey. Crenicichla is a Genus of Cichlids It includes about 75 species and is the most speciose genus of cichlids Rhamphochromis is a Genus of Cichlid Fish endemic to Lake Malawi in East Africa. ^[24] Paedophagous cichlids such as the Caprichromis species eat other species' eggs or young (in some cases ramming the heads of mouthbrooding species to force them to disgorge their young). Paedophagy literally means the "consumption of children" Caprichromis is a small Genus of Cichlid Fish which currently contains two Species. ^{[25][26][23][27]} Among the more unusual feeding strategies are those of Corematodus spp. Corematodus is a small Genus of Cichlids with only two species , Docimodus evelynae, Plecodus, Perissodus and Genyochromis species, which feed on scales and fins of other fishes, a behaviour known as lepidophagy^[28][29][30] along with the death mimicking behaviour of Nimbochromis and Parachromis species, which lay motionless, luring small fish to their side prior to ambush. Docimodus is a small Genus of Cichlid fish endemic to East Africa. UserPolbot. --> Plecodus is a genus of Fish in the Cichlidae family UserPolbot. --> Perissodus is a genus of Fish in the Cichlidae family Genyochromis is a Monotypic Genus of Cichlid fish The single species Genyochromis mento, is endemic to Lake Malawi Lepidophagy is a specialised Feeding behaviour in Fish that involves eating of scales of other fish Nimbochromis is a small Genus of five Cichlid species endemic to Lake Malawi in East Africa. Parachromis is a genus of Freshwater fishes from the family Cichlidae. ^[31][32]

Scientists believe it is this wide adaptability of feeding styles that has helped cichlids to inhabit such a wide range of habitats. It is largely the pharyngeal teeth (teeth in the throat) that allows the cichlids so many 'niche' feeding behaviours, i. e. the jaws may be used to hold or pick food, while the pharyngeal teeth are used to crush what was harvested.

Reproduction

A substrate brooding female managuense cichlid, Parachromis managuense, guards a clutch of eggs in the aquarium. Parachromis managuensis is a Cichlid native to Nicaragua in Central America: the scientific name means "from Managua " (as

Brood care

All species show some form of parental care for both eggs and larvae, often extended to free-swimming young until they are several weeks or months old. In most Birds and Reptiles an egg ( Latin ovum) is the Zygote, resulting from Fertilization of the Ovum. A larva ( Latin; plural larvae) is a juvenile form of Animal with indirect development, undergoing Metamorphosis (for example Species of this family have highly organized breeding activities. ^[13]

Parental care falls into one of four categories:^[33]Substrate or open brooders, secretive cave brooders (also known as guarding speleophils^[34]), and at least two types of mouthbrooding, ovophile mouthbrooding and larvophile mouthbrooding. Mouthbrooding, 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 ^[35]

Open or substrate brooding cichlids lay their eggs in the open on rocks, leaves or logs. Examples of open brooding cichlids include Pterophyllum, Symphysodon spp and Anomalochromis thomasi. Pterophyllum is a small Genus of freshwater fish from the family Cichlidae known to most aquarists as "Angelfish" Discus ( Symphysodon spp are a genus of three species of freshwater cichlid Fishes native to the Amazon River basin Anomalochromis thomasi is a species of fish in the family Cichlidae, the only species in the genus Anomalochromis. In general, brooding biparental substrate brooding cichlids usually engage in differing roles with regard to protection and raising of the fry. Most commonly, the male parent patrols the pair's territory and repels intruders, while females more intensively tend the brood, fanning water over the eggs, removing infertile eggs and leading the school of fry while foraging. Despite this, both sexes are able to perform the full range of parenting behaviours. ^[35] Secretive cave spawning cichlids lay their eggs in caves, crevices, holes or discarded mollusc shells (see also: shell brooding cichlids), frequently attaching the eggs to the roof of the chamber. The terms shell dwellers or shelldwellers, shell-breeding, or ostracophil are descriptive terms for Cichlid Fish that use the empty Examples include Pelvicachromis spp. Pelvicachromis pulcher is a freshwater fish of the Cichlid family endemic to Nigeria and Cameroon. , Archocentrus spp and Apistogramma spp. The Convict cichlid ( Amatitlania nigrofasciata) is a species of fish from the family Cichlidae native to Central America, also known ^[33] Communication between free-swimming fry and parents of both open and cave spawning cichlids has been observed for a number of cichlids in captivity and in the wild. ^[35] Frequently this communication is based on body movements, such as shaking and pelvic fin flicking. ^[35] In addition, parental substrate brooding cichlids assist in finding food resources for their fry. Parental behaviours such as leaf-turning, and fin-digging have been observed for a number of neotropical cichlid species. ^[35]

Communal parental care, where multiple monogamous pairs care for a mixed school of young have also been observed for a number of cichlid species including: Amphilophus citrinellus, Etroplus suratensis and Tilapia rendalli. Amphilophus citrinellus is a large Cichlid Fish endemic to Costa Rica and Nicaragua in Central America. Etroplus suratensis is the scientific name for a Freshwater fish also known as the pearl spot green chromide or Karimeen (in UserPolbot. -->The redbreast tilapia ( Tilapia rendalli) is a species of Fish in the Cichlidae ^[36][37][38] Comparably, the fry of Neolamprologus brichardi, a species that commonly lives in large groups, are protected not only by the adults, but also by older juveniles from previous spawns. Neolamprologus brichardi is a Species of Cichlid Fish, Endemic to the alkaline waters of Lake Tanganyika in A juvenile is an individual Organism that has not yet reached its Adult form Sexual maturity or size ^[39]

A female Cyphotilapia frontosa mouthbrooding fry which can be seen looking out her mouth

Ovophile mouthbrooders incubate their eggs in their mouths as soon as they are laid, and frequently continue to brood free-swimming fry in their mouths for several weeks. Cyphotilapia frontosa is a Fish from the Cichlid family native to Lake Tanganyika in East Africa. Examples of ovophile mouthbrooding cichlids include many of the cichlids endemic to the Rift Valley lakes (Lake Malawi, Lake Tanganyika and Lake Victoria) in east Africa eg: Maylandia, Pseudotropheus and Tropheus along with some south american cichlids such as Geophagus steindachneri. A rift valley is a linear-shaped lowland between highlands or mountain ranges created by the action of a geologic Rift or fault. Lake Malawi (also known as Lake Nyasa, Lake Nyassa, Lake Niassa, and Lago Niassa in Mozambique) is the most southerly Lake Lake Tanganyika is a large Lake in central Africa (3° 20' to 8° 48' South and from 29° 5' to 31° 15' East Lake Victoria or Victoria Nyanza (also known as Ukerewe and Nalubaale) is one of the Great Lakes of Africa. East Africa is the Easternmost Region of the African Continent. The Genus Maylandia contains around 15 Species of Cichlid fish endemic to Lake Malawi in Eastern Africa. Pseudotropheus is a Genus of rock dwelling ( Mbuna) Cichlids found in Lake Malawi. Tropheus is a small Genus of six Species of Cichlid Fish endemic to Lake Tanganyika in East Africa. South America is a Continent of the Americas, situated entirely in the Western Hemisphere and mostly in the Southern Hemisphere, with a Geophagus steindachneri Eigenmann & Hildebrand is a South American Eartheater Cichlid of the genus Geophagus. Larvophile mouthbrooding species lay the eggs in the open, or in a cave and upon hatching take the larvae into the mouth. Examples include some variants of Geophagus altifrons, some Aequidens, Gymnogeophagus and Satanoperca species. The Geophagus altifrons is a Freshwater Eartheater cichlid Fish native to South America, particularly in the Amazon Forest Aequidens is a Genus of fish in the family Cichlidae. The genus itself is poorly defined and Polyphyletic. Gymnogeophagus is a small Genus of Cichlid fish endemic to South America. Satanoperca is a small Genus of Cichlid fish endemic to South America. ^[4][33] Regardless of whether eggs or larvae are subject to mouthbrooding, the vast majority of mouthbrooding cichlids are maternal mouthbrooders, that is the female mouthbroods the young. In the eretmodine cichlids (genera Spathodus, Eretmodus and Tanganicodus), some Sarotherodon species, Chromidotilapia guntheri and some Aequidens species, however, mouthbrooding is practiced by both the male and the female. Spathodus is a small Genus of two Cichlid species endemic to Lake Tanganyika in East Africa. Eretmodus is a Monotypic Genus of Cichlid fish endemic to Lake Tanganyika in East Africa. Tanganicodus is a Monotypic Cichlid Genus whose single representative Tanganicodus irsacae, is endemic to Lake Tanganyika Sarotherodon is a Genus of Tilapiine Cichlids Fishes endemic to Africa and Israel Aequidens is a Genus of fish in the family Cichlidae. The genus itself is poorly defined and Polyphyletic. ^[4][40][35] Paternal mouthbrooding, though rare, is also known to occur in the family eg. Sarotherodon melanotheron. ^[41] This method is common and appears to have evolved independently in several groups of African cichlids. ^[13]

Several cichlids, including discus (Symphysodon spp. Discus ( Symphysodon spp are a genus of three species of freshwater cichlid Fishes native to the Amazon River basin ), some Amphilophus species, Etroplus and Uaru species are noted to feed their young with a skin secretion from mucous glands. Amphilophus is a Genus of Cichlid fishes from Central America. Etroplus is a small Genus of Cichlids with only three species Uaru is a small Genus of Cichlid fishes with only two species Secretion is the process of segregating elaborating and releasing chemicals from a cell, or a secreted Chemical substance or amount of substance ^[4][33]

Mating system

Cichlids are either monogamous or polygamous in their mating system. Monogamy is the custom or condition of having only one mate in a Relationship, thus forming a Couple. The term polygamy (a Greek word meaning "the practice of multiple marriage" is used in related ways in Social anthropology, Sociobiology, and ^[4] The mating system of any given cichlid species is not consistently associated with the type of brood care the species employs. For example, although most monogamous cichlids are not mouthbrooding cichlids, Chromidotilapia, Gymnogeophagus, Spathodus and Tanganicodus are all monogamous mouthbrooders. Chromidotilapia is a Genus of Cichlid fishes from West Africa. Gymnogeophagus is a small Genus of Cichlid fish endemic to South America. Spathodus is a small Genus of two Cichlid species endemic to Lake Tanganyika in East Africa. Tanganicodus is a Monotypic Cichlid Genus whose single representative Tanganicodus irsacae, is endemic to Lake Tanganyika In contrast, numerous open or cave spawning cichlids are polygamous, examples include Apistogramma, Lamprologus, Nannacara and Pelvicachromis. Lamprologus is a genus of fishes from the family Cichlidae. The type species for this genus is Lamprologus congoensis a Riverine cichlid from Nannacara is a genus of small Freshwater Cichlid Fish endemic to South America. The genus Pelvicachromis includes a range of small (75 - 10 cm) brightly coloured Cichlids which occur throughout tropical West Africa. ^[4][42]

Lamprologus ocellatus, a shell-dwelling cichlid, guarding fry

Endangered cichlids

According to the 2007 International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources red list 156 cichlid species are currently listed as vulnerable, 40 species are listed as endangered, while 69 species are listed as critically endangered. Lamprologus ocellatus is a type of shell dweller from Lake Tanganyika. The terms shell dwellers or shelldwellers, shell-breeding, or ostracophil are descriptive terms for Cichlid Fish that use the empty The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species (also known as the IUCN Red List or Red Data List) created in 1963 is the world's most comprehensive inventory of the global Six species, Haplochromis ishmaeli, Haplochromis lividus, Haplochromis perrieri, Paretroplus menarambo, Platytaeniodus degeni and Yssichromis sp. nov. 'argens' are extinct in the wild, while at least 39 species, most from the genus Haplochromis, have become extinct since the early 1990s. Haplochromis is the largest Genus of fish in the family Cichlidae, many of which are endemic to Lake Victoria ^[43]

Lake Victoria

Because of the introduced Nile perch (Lates niloticus) and water hyacinth, deforestation causing siltation of water, and overfishing, many species of Lake Victoria cichlids have been wiped out or drastically reduced in the wild. The Nile perch ( Lates niloticus) is a Species of Freshwater Fish in family Latidae of order Perciformes The seven species of water hyacinths comprise the genus Eichhornia. Lake Victoria or Victoria Nyanza (also known as Ukerewe and Nalubaale) is one of the Great Lakes of Africa. By around 1980, fisheries of the lake yielded only 1 percent cichlids from all the catch, a drastic decline from 80 percent in the earlier years. ^[44]

Haplochromis latifasciata is critically endangered in the wild^[45]

As many as three hundred species or about two-thirds of the endemic cichlids, especially the ones that feed in the open bottom of the lake, became endangered or extinct. UserPolbot. --> Haplochromis latifasciata is a species of Fish in the Cichlidae family Some surviving cichlids, however, have adapted to the new threats by becoming smaller or hybridising with other species. ^[44] Thankfully, the myriad of satellite lakes surrounding Lake Victoria have not been affected, and harbor an array of similar species.

Cichlids as food and game fish

Although cichlids are mostly small and medium-sized fishes, a substantial number of species are notable as food and game fishes. With few thick rib bones and tasty flesh, artisan fishing of cichlids is not uncommon in Central America and South America, as well as areas surrounding the African rift lakes. Artisan fishing is a term sometimes used to describe small scale commercial or Subsistence fishing practises South America is a Continent of the Americas, situated entirely in the Western Hemisphere and mostly in the Southern Hemisphere, with a A 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 ^[44] The most important food cichlids, however, are the tilapiines of North Africa. The Tilapiini is a tribe within the family Cichlidae commonly known as tilapiine cichlids. Fast growing, tolerant of stocking density, and highly adaptable, tilapiine species have been introduced and farmed extensively in many parts of Asia and are increasingly common in other parts of the world. Production of farmed tilapia, at about 1. 5 million tons annually with an estimated value of US$1. 8 billion,^[46] is about equal to that of salmon and trout. Unlike carnivorous salmon and trout, however, tilapia are mostly omnivorous and can feed on algae or any plant-based food. This reduces the cost of tilapia farming greatly and makes tilapia the ideal "aquatic chickens" of the trade. ^[44]

In addition to being food fish, many large cichlids also make good game fish. The strong, hard-fighting peacock bass (Cichla species) of South America is one of the most popular sportfish. Peacock bass is the common name in English for several Species of Tropical, Freshwater fish of the Genus Cichla Cichla is a Genus of fifteen described Species of fish from the family Cichlidae. South America is a Continent of the Americas, situated entirely in the Western Hemisphere and mostly in the Southern Hemisphere, with a Recreational fishing, also called sport fishing, is Fishing for Pleasure or Competition. It was intentionally released in many waters around the world. In Florida, this fish generates millions of hours of fishing and anglers' spendings of more than US$8 million a year. Florida ( is a state located in the southeastern region of the United States, bordering Alabama to the northwest and Georgia to the ^[47] Other cichlids preferred by anglers include the oscar, Mayan cichlid (Cichlasoma urophthalmus), and jaguar guapote (Parachromis managuensis). Astronotus ocellatus is a species of Fish from the Cichlid family known under a variety of common names including oscar, tiger The Maya cichlid, Cichlasoma urophthalmus, is a member of the Cichlidae family of Fish. Parachromis managuensis is a Cichlid native to Nicaragua in Central America: the scientific name means "from Managua " (as ^[47]

Cichlids as aquarium fish

Although not particularly hardy, the discus, Symphysodon spp. Discus ( Symphysodon spp are a genus of three species of freshwater cichlid Fishes native to the Amazon River basin , has been popular among aquarium enthusiasts.

Since 1945, cichlids have become increasingly popular as aquarium fish^{[35][4][33][48][49][50][51]} Cichlids are ideally suited as aquarium fish as many are small to medium-sized, easy to feed with a range of prepared fish foods, breed readily, and practice brood care, in captivity. food is Plant or Animal material intended for consumption by pet Fish kept in Aquariums or Ponds. ^[33]

The most commonly encountered species in retail aquariums is Pterophyllum scalare from the Amazon River basin in tropical South America, known in the trade as the "angelfish" . Pterophyllum is a small Genus of freshwater fish from the family Cichlidae known to most aquarists as "Angelfish" The Amazon River (Rio Amazonas Río Amazonas of South America is the largest river in the world by volume with a total river flow greater than the next top ten largest rivers Pterophyllum is a small Genus of freshwater fish from the family Cichlidae known to most aquarists as "Angelfish" Other popular or readily available species of cichlids include the oscar (Astronotus ocellatus), convict cichlid (Archocentrus nigrofasciatus) and discus (Symphysodon spp. Astronotus ocellatus is a species of Fish from the Cichlid family known under a variety of common names including oscar, tiger The Convict cichlid ( Amatitlania nigrofasciata) is a species of fish from the family Cichlidae native to Central America, also known Discus ( Symphysodon spp are a genus of three species of freshwater cichlid Fishes native to the Amazon River basin ). ^[4]

Species of cichlid can be kept in aquariums with other fish, however, many cichlids are predatory towards smaller fish. An aquarium (plural aquariums or aquaria) is a Vivarium consisting of at least one transparent side in which Water -dwelling Plants ^[33] Conversely, some cichlids, such as Apistogramma or Julidochromis spp. Julidochromis is a Genus of Cichlids in the Subfamily Pseudocrenilabrinae. , can be timid in the aquarium. In such cases the use of dither fish is recommended. The 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 (Barlow 1967 ^[4]

Hybrid cichlids and selective breeding

The "red Texas" cichlid is not a Texas cichlid (Herichthys cyanoguttatus) but an intergeneric hybrid of Herichthys and Amphilophus parents. The Texas cichlid ( Herichthys cyanoguttatus, formerly Cichlasoma cyanoguttatum) is a Freshwater Fish of the cichlid Herichthys is a small Genus of Cichlid fishes from North America and Central America. Amphilophus is a Genus of Cichlid fishes from Central America.

Some cichlids have been found to hybridise with closely related species quite readily, both in the wild and under artificial conditions. ^[52] This is not particularly unusual, having been observed among other groups of fishes, such as European cyprinids. The family Cyprinidae, from the Ancient Greek κυπρῖνος ( kuprīnos "carp" consists of the Carps ^[53] What is unusual is the extent to which cichlid hybrids have been put to commercial use, in particular as food fish and as aquarium fish. ^[6][54] The red strain of tilapia hybrid, for example, is often preferred in aquaculture as they have faster growth rates. Tilapia (təˌlɑpiə is the common name for nearly a hundred Species of Cichlid Fishes from the Tilapiine cichlid tribe Aquaculture is the farming of freshwater and saltwater organisms including Molluscs Crustaceans and aquatic plants Tilapia hybridisation is also used to produce all-male populations to control stock density and prohibit reproduction in ponds. ^[6]

The most ubiquitous aquarium hybrid is perhaps the blood parrot cichlid which is a cross of several species especially those from genus Amphilophus. The Blood parrot (also known as bloody parrot and blood parrotfish; no Binomial nomenclature) is a hybrid Cichlid. Amphilophus is a Genus of Cichlid fishes from Central America. With a beak-shaped mouth, an abnormal spine, and an occasionally missing caudal fin (known as the "love heart" parrot cichlid), the fish has caused controversy among aquarium enthusiasts. Some has called blood parrot cichlid "the Frankenstein monster of the fish world. "^[55] Another notable hybrid, the flowerhorn cichlid, was very popular in some parts of Asia from 2001 until late 2003 and is believed to bring good luck to its owner. The Flowerhorn, also called Luohan (Luo Han is a intergeneric Cichlid hybrid. ^[56] The popularity of the flowerhorn cichlid declined in 2004,^[57] resulting in many flowerhorn cichlids being released into the rivers and canals of Malaysia and Singapore where they pose a threat to endemic animal communities. For the biogeographical region see Malesia Malaysia (məˈleɪʒə or /məˈleɪziə/ is a country that consists of thirteen states and Singapore ^[58]

A leucistic long-finned form of A. ocellatus

Numerous cichlid species have also been the subject of selective breeding programmes to develop new ornamental strains for the aquarium trade. Leucism is a condition characterized by reduced Pigmentation in animals Astronotus ocellatus is a species of Fish from the Cichlid family known under a variety of common names including oscar, tiger This article focuses on selective breeding in domesticated animals The most intensive selective breeding programs have involved angelfish and discus and many mutations that effect both colouration and finnage are known. Pterophyllum is a small Genus of freshwater fish from the family Cichlidae known to most aquarists as "Angelfish" Discus ( Symphysodon spp are a genus of three species of freshwater cichlid Fishes native to the Amazon River basin In biology mutations are changes to the Nucleotide sequence of the Genetic material of an organism ^[4][59][60] Many other cichlids have been selecively bred for albino, leucistic and xanthistic pigment mutations including oscars, convicts and Pelvicachromis pulcher. Albinism (from Latin albus, "white" see extended etymology) is a form of hypopigmentary Congenital disorder, Leucism is a condition characterized by reduced Pigmentation in animals Xanthochromism (also called xanthochroism or xanthism) is a term that may be applied to birds fish and other animals whose colouration is unusually yellow through Astronotus ocellatus is a species of Fish from the Cichlid family known under a variety of common names including oscar, tiger The Convict cichlid ( Amatitlania nigrofasciata) is a species of fish from the family Cichlidae native to Central America, also known Pelvicachromis pulcher is a freshwater fish of the Cichlid family endemic to Nigeria and Cameroon. ^[4][33] Both dominant and recessively inherited pigment mutations have been observed for cichlids. ^[10] In convict cichlids, for example, a leucistic colouration is recessively inherited,^[61] while in Oreochromis niloticus niloticus red colouration is caused by an dominantly inherited mutation. The Convict cichlid ( Amatitlania nigrofasciata) is a species of fish from the family Cichlidae native to Central America, also known Leucism is a condition characterized by reduced Pigmentation in animals ^[62]

These efforts at selectively breeding may, however, have unintended consequences. Unintended consequences are outcomes that are not (or not limited to what the actor intended in a particular situation For example, some selectively bred strains of Mikrogeophagus ramirezi have health and fertility problems. Mikrogeophagus ramirezi is a species of Freshwater Fish endemic to the Orinoco River basin in the Savannahs of Venezuela ^[63] Similarly, the inbreeding involved in selective breeding programmes can cause severe physical abnormalies such as the notched phenotype in angelfish. Inbreeding is breeding between close Relatives whether plant or animal A phenotype is any observable characteristic of an Organism, such as its morphology, Development, biochemical or physiological properties Pterophyllum is a small Genus of freshwater fish from the family Cichlidae known to most aquarists as "Angelfish" ^[64]

Genera

As of 2006, there were some 220 genera:^[1]

Images of cichlids

Main gallery: Cichlid images

The oscar (Astronotus ocellatus) is one of the most popular cichlids in the fishkeeping hobby. Acarichthys heckelii is the single species in the Monotypic Genus Acarichthys of Cichlid fish Carl H Eigenmann ( March 9, 1863 - April 24, 1927) was an Ichthyologist who along with his wife Rosa Smith Eigenmann, Acaronia is a small Genus of Cichlids with two species Dr George Sprague Myers 1905-1985 spent most of his career at Stanford University, where he was one of the leading American Ichthyologists of the twentieth century Aequidens is a Genus of fish in the family Cichlidae. The genus itself is poorly defined and Polyphyletic. UserPolbot. --> Allochromis welcommei is a species of Fish in the Cichlidae family Alticorpus is a small Genus of Cichlids containing five formally described species and at least 2 undescribed species all endemic to the deep waters Altolamprologus is a small Genus of pseudocrenilabrine Cichlids endemic to Lake Tanganyika in eastern Africa Aulonocara is a Genus of Cichlids endemic to Lake Malawi in East Africa. Amphilophus is a Genus of Cichlid fishes from Central America. Jean Louis Rodolphe Agassiz ( May 28 1807 — December 14 1873) was a Swiss - American Zoologist, Glaciologist Anomalochromis thomasi is a species of fish in the family Cichlidae, the only species in the genus Anomalochromis. Charles Tate Regan ( February 1, 1878 - January 12, 1943) was a British ichthyologist, working mainly around the beginning Archocentrus is a Small Genus of Cichlid Fishes from Central America. Theodore Nicholas Gill ( March 21, 1837 – September 25, 1914) was an American Ichthyologist, Mammalogist, Aristochromis is a Monotypic Genus of Cichlid fish The single species Aristochromis christyi, is a large (30 cm Dr Ethelwynn Trewavas ( November 5, 1900 - August 16, 1993) was a respected Ichthyologist from the British Museum of Natural History Astatoreochromis is a small Genus of Cichlid fish endemic to Riverine Habitats in East Africa. Jacques Pellegrin ( 12 June 1873 - 12 August 1944) was a French zoologist. Astatotilapia is a small Genus of Cichlid Fish endemic to East Africa. Astronotus is a Genus of fish from the family Cichlidae. The genus is one of three genera which make up the tribe Chaetobranchini. Aulonocara is a Genus of Cichlids endemic to Lake Malawi in East Africa. Aulonocranus is a Monotypic Genus of Cichlid fish The single species Aulonocranus dewindti, is endemic to Lake Tanganyika Australoheros is a Genus of Cichlids containing nine named species but also some still undescribed species Baileychromis is a Monotypic Genus of Cichlid fish The single species Baileychromis centropomoides, is endemic to Lake Bathybates is a small Genus of predatory Cichlid fish The genus is endemic to Lake Tanganyika in East Africa and contains 7 George Albert Boulenger (born Brussels, Belgium, October 19, 1858; died Saint Malo, France, November 23 Benitochromis is a small Genus of Cichlid fish endemic to riverine and lake habitats in West Africa. Benthochromis is a small Genus of Cichlid fish endemic to Lake Tanganyika in East Africa. Biotodoma is a small Genus of Cichlids with only two species These are B Biotoecus is a small Genus of Cichlids with only two species Boulengerochromis is a Monotypic Genus of Cichlid fish The single species Boulengerochromis microlepis, is arguably the largest Buccochromis is a small Genus of Cichlid fish endemic to Lake Malawi in East Africa. Bujurquina is a Genus of Cichlid fish endemic to South America. Callochromis is a genus of Cichlids including the species C macrops, C Caprichromis is a small Genus of Cichlid Fish which currently contains two Species. Caquetaia is a small Genus of Cichlid fishes from Central and South America. Cardiopharynx is a Monotypic Cichlid Genus. The single species Cardiopharynx schoutedeni, is a semi- Pelagic, schooling Chaetobranchopsis is a small Genus of Cichlid fishes from South America. Franz Steindachner ( November 11, 1834 - December 10, 1919) was an Austrian Zoologist. Chaetobranchus is a small Genus of Cichlids with only two species Johann Jakob Heckel ( January 23, 1790 - March 1, 1857) was an Austrian Taxidermist, Zoologist, and Ichthyologist Chalinochromis is a small and disputed Cichlid Genus from the Subfamily Pseudocrenilabrinae; it contains just two Species Champsochromis is a small Genus of Cichlid fishes endemic to Lake Malawi in East Africa. Cheilochromis is a Monotypic Genus of Cichlid fish containing a single species Cheilochromis euchilus. Chetia is a small Genus of Cichlid fishes endemic to Riverine Habitats in East Africa. Chilochromis is a Monotypic Genus of Cichlid fish containing only Chilochromis duponti. Chilotilapia is a Monotypic Genus of Cichlid fish The single species Chilotilapia rhoadesii, is endemic to Lake Malawi Chromidotilapia is a Genus of Cichlid fishes from West Africa. Cichla is a Genus of fifteen described Species of fish from the family Cichlidae. Cichlasoma is a Genus of Fish in the Cichlid familyThe genus was previously very large including cichlids from North America ( Texas The keyhole cichlid, Cleithracara maronii, is a Cichlid Fish endemic to tropical South America, occurring in the Orinoco River Copadichromis is a Genus of cichlid fishes endemic to Lake Malawi in Eastern Africa. Corematodus is a small Genus of Cichlids with only two species Crenicara is a small Genus of Cichlid fishes endemic to South America. Crenicichla is a Genus of Cichlids It includes about 75 species and is the most speciose genus of cichlids Ctenochromis is a small Genus of Cichlids with only three species Ctenopharynx is a small Genus of three species of Cichlid fish endemic to East Africa. Cunningtonia is a Monotypic Genus of Cichlid fish The single species Cunningtonia longiventralis, is endemic to the southern Cyathochromis is a Monotypic Genus of Cichlid fish The single species Cyathochromis obliquidens, is endemic to Lake Malawi Cyathopharynx is a Monotypic Genus of Cichlid fish The single species Cyathopharynx furcifer, originally described by Boulenger Cyclopharynx is a small Genus of two species of Cichlid fish Both species are endemic to the Fwa river, in the Kasai-Oriental Cynotilapia is a Genus of fishes from the family Cichlidae. The genus was described by Charles Tate Regan the British Ichthyologist Cyphotilapia is a small Genus of Cichlids with only two species Cyprichromis is a Genus of Cichlids with five known species It is also known as the herring cichlid or sardine cichlid of Lake Cyrtocara is a Monotypic Genus of Cichlid fish The single species Cyrtocara moorii, is endemic to Lake Malawi in Danakilia is a Monotypic Genus of Cichlid fish The single species Danakilia franchettii, is endemic to Lake Dicrossus is a small Genus of Cichlids with three formally described species Dimidiochromis is a small Genus of four species of Cichlid fish endemic to Lake Malawi in East Africa. Diplotaxodon is a small Genus of seven formally described as well as at least 15 undescribed deep-water species of Cichlid fish endemic Divandu is a Monotypic Genus of Cichlid fish The single species Divandu albimarginatus, is endemic to the Republic of Docimodus is a small Genus of Cichlid fish endemic to East Africa. Eclectochromis is a small Genus of Cichlid fish endemic to Lake Malawi in East Africa. Ectodus descampsii is a Cichlid fish the only member of its Genus Ectodus UserPolbot. --> Enterochromis is a genus of Fish in the Cichlidae family Eretmodus is a Monotypic Genus of Cichlid fish endemic to Lake Tanganyika in East Africa. Etia is a Monotypic Genus of Cichlid fish The single species Etia nguti, is endemic to Cameroon in Etroplus is a small Genus of Cichlids with only three species Exochochromis is a Monotypic Genus of Cichlid fish The single species Exochochromis anagenys, known in some countries as the Fossorochromis is a monotypic Genus of Cichlid endemic to Lake Malawi in East Africa. Genyochromis is a Monotypic Genus of Cichlid fish The single species Genyochromis mento, is endemic to Lake Malawi Geophagus is a genus Cichlids The genus is currently Polyphyletic and in need of further taxonomic revision Gephyrochromis is a small Genus of Cichlid fish The genus contains two species Gephyrochromis lawsii and Gephyrochromis moorii Gnathochromis is a small Genus of sand sifting Cichlid fish endemic to Lake Tanganyika in East Africa. Gobiocichla is a small Genus of Cichlids with only two species Grammatotria lemairii is a species of Fish endemic to Lake Tanganyika in East Africa. Greenwoodochromis is a small Genus of Cichlids with only two species Guianacara is a small Genus of Cichlid fish endemic to South America. Gymnogeophagus is a small Genus of Cichlid fish endemic to South America. Haplochromis is the largest Genus of fish in the family Cichlidae, many of which are endemic to Lake Victoria UserPolbot. --> Haplotaxodon is a genus of Fish in the Cichlidae family endemic to Lake Tanganyika UserPolbot. --> Harpagochromis is a genus of Fish in the Cichlidae family Hemibates stenosoma is a species of Fish endemic to Lake Tanganyika in East Africa. Hemichromis is a Genus of Fish from the family Cichlidae, known in the aquarium trade as Jewel cichlids. Hemitaeniochromis urotaenia is a species of Fish endemic to Lake Malawi in East Africa. UserPolbot. --> Hemitilapia is a genus of Fish in the Cichlidae family Herichthys is a small Genus of Cichlid fishes from North America and Central America. General The Genus Heros includes several Fish Species in the Cichlidae family The rainbow cichlid ( Archocentrus multispinosus) is a Tropical Freshwater Central American Fish of the Cichlid family Heterochromis multidens is a Monotypic species of Fish from the family Cichlidae in the subfamily Heterochromidinae Hoplarchus psittacus is a species of cichlid Fish endemic to the Blackwater rivers in Brazil, Colombia and Venezuela Johann Jakob Kaup ( April 10, 1803 - July 4, 1873) was a German naturalist Hoplotilapia retrodens is a species of Fish endemic to Lake Victoria in East Africa. Hypselecara is a small Genus of Cichlid fish with only two species Hypsophrys nicaraguensis is a species of Fish endemic to the Atlantic slope of Central America, from Nicaragua to Jean Louis Rodolphe Agassiz ( May 28 1807 — December 14 1873) was a Swiss - American Zoologist, Glaciologist Interochromis loocki is a species of Fish endemic to Lake Tanganyika in East Africa. Iodotropheus is a small Genus of Cichlid Fish endemic to Lake Malawi in East Africa. Iranocichla is a Monotypic Genus of mouthbrooding Cichlid fish with a single species Iranocichla hormuzensis. Julidochromis is a Genus of Cichlids in the Subfamily Pseudocrenilabrinae. Labeotropheus is a genus of Cichlid Fish endemic to Lake Malawi in eastern Africa Christoph Gustav Ernst Ahl (September 1 1898&ndashFebruary 14 1945 was a German zoologist. Labidochromis is a Genus of fish endemic to Lake Malawi from the family Cichlidae. Laetacara is a small Genus of five species of Fish, endemic to soft, acidic freshwater Habitats in South America Lamprologus is a genus of fishes from the family Cichlidae. The type species for this genus is Lamprologus congoensis a Riverine cichlid from Lepidiolamprologus is a small Genus of Cichlids endemic to Lake Tanganyika in eastern Africa. UserPolbot. --> Lestradea is a genus of Fish in the Cichlidae family UserPolbot. --> Lethrinops is a genus of Fish in the Cichlidae family endemic to Lake Malawi UserPolbot. --> Lichnochromis is a genus of Fish in the Cichlidae family Limbochromis is a small Genus of Cichlids with only two species Limnochromis is a small Genus of Cichlid fish endemic to Lake Tanganyika in East Africa. UserPolbot. --> Limnotilapia is a genus of Fish in the Cichlidae family UserPolbot. --> Lipochromis is a genus of Fish in the Cichlidae family UserPolbot. --> Lithochromis is a genus of Fish in the Cichlidae family UserPolbot. --> Lobochilotes is a genus of Fish in the Cichlidae family UserPolbot. --> Macropleurodus is a genus of Fish in the Cichlidae family The Genus Maylandia contains around 15 Species of Cichlid fish endemic to Lake Malawi in Eastern Africa. Metriaclima ( Type species: Tilapia zebra, Boulenger 1899 is genus of African Cichlid containing many of the species UserPolbot. --> Mbipia is a genus of Fish in the Cichlidae family Melanochromis is a Genus of fish from the family Cichlidae endemic to Lake Malawi. Mesonauta is a small Genus of six species of Fish, endemic to soft, acidic freshwater Habitats in South America Albrecht Karl Ludwig Gotthilf Günther FRS (also Albert Charles Lewis Gotthilf Gunther) October 3, 1830 – February 1 Mikrogeophagus is a Neotropical Cichlid Genus. The genus Mikrogeophagus includes only two species UserPolbot. --> Myaka is a genus of Fish in the Cichlidae family UserPolbot. --> Mylochromis is a genus of Fish in the Cichlidae family UserPolbot. --> Naevochromis is a genus of Fish in the Cichlidae family Nandopsis is a small Genus of Cichlid fishes from Central America. Nannacara is a genus of small Freshwater Cichlid Fish endemic to South America. Nanochromis is a Genus of Cichlids containing eleven species The poor man's tropheus, Hypsophrys nematopus, formerly Neetroplus nematopus, is a species of fish in the family Cichlidae. Albrecht Karl Ludwig Gotthilf Günther FRS (also Albert Charles Lewis Gotthilf Gunther) October 3, 1830 – February 1 UserPolbot. --> Neochromis is a genus of Fish in the Cichlidae family Neolamprologus is a Genus of Cichlid fishes endemic to eastern Africa with all but one species occurring in Lake Tanganyika. Nimbochromis is a small Genus of five Cichlid species endemic to Lake Malawi in East Africa. UserPolbot. --> Nyassachromis is a genus of Fish in the Cichlidae family Ophthalmotilapia is a small Genus of four Cichlid species endemic to Lake Tanganyika in East Africa. Oreochromis is a large Genus of Tilapiine Cichlids Fishes endemic to Africa UserPolbot. --> Orthochromis is a genus of Fish in the Cichlidae family Otopharynx is a Genus of Cichlid fishes endemic to Lake Malawi in East Africa. UserPolbot. --> Oxylapia is a genus of Fish in the Cichlidae family UserPolbot. --> Pallidochromis is a genus of Fish in the Cichlidae family endemic to the deep waters Parachromis is a genus of Freshwater fishes from the family Cichlidae. Paracyprichromis is a small Genus of Cichlids with only two species UserPolbot. --> Paralabidochromis is a genus of Fish in the Cichlidae family Paraneetroplus is a small Genus of Cichlids with only three species Paratilapia is a small Genus of Cichlids with only two known species Pieter Bleeker ( July 10 1819, Zaandam - January 24 1878, The Hague) was a Dutch Medical doctor UserPolbot. --> Paretroplus is a genus of Fish in the Cichlidae family all of which are endemic to lakes The genus Pelvicachromis includes a range of small (75 - 10 cm) brightly coloured Cichlids which occur throughout tropical West Africa. UserPolbot. --> Perissodus is a genus of Fish in the Cichlidae family Petenia is a Monotypic Cichlid Genus. The single species Petenia splendida, is a large (50 cm) predatory Petrochromis is a small Genus of seven Cichlid species endemic to Lake Tanganyika in East Africa. UserPolbot. --> Petrotilapia is a genus of Fish in the Cichlidae family Placidochromis is a Genus of Cichlid Fish endemic to Lake Malawi in East Africa. UserPolbot. --> Platytaeniodus is a genus of Fish in the Cichlidae family UserPolbot. --> Plecodus is a genus of Fish in the Cichlidae family UserPolbot. --> Prognathochromis is a genus of Fish in the Cichlidae family Protomelas is a Cichlid genus endemic to Lake Malawi in Eastern Africa. Pseudocrenilabrus is a small Genus of Mouthbrooding Cichlid species endemic to Riverine Habitats in East Africa UserPolbot. --> Pseudosimochromis is a genus of Fish in the Cichlidae family Pseudotropheus is a Genus of rock dwelling ( Mbuna) Cichlids found in Lake Malawi. Pterophyllum is a small Genus of freshwater fish from the family Cichlidae known to most aquarists as "Angelfish" UserPolbot. --> Ptychochromis is a genus of Fish in the Cichlidae family UserPolbot. --> Ptychochromoides is a genus of Fish in the Cichlidae family UserPolbot. --> Ptyochromis is a genus of Fish in the Cichlidae family UserPolbot. --> Pundamilia is a genus of Fish in the Cichlidae family UserPolbot. -->The pungu ( Pungu maclareni) is a species of Fish in the Cichlidae family UserPolbot. --> Pyxichromis is a genus of Fish in the Cichlidae family Reganochromis calliurus is a species of Fish endemic to Lake Tanganyika in East Africa. Rhamphochromis is a Genus of Cichlid Fish endemic to Lake Malawi in East Africa. Sarotherodon is a Genus of Tilapiine Cichlids Fishes endemic to Africa and Israel Satanoperca is a small Genus of Cichlid fish endemic to South America. Sciaenochromis is a Genus of Cichlid Fish endemic to Lake Malawi in East Africa. UserPolbot. --> Serranochromis is a genus of Fish in the Cichlidae family UserPolbot. --> Simochromis is a genus of Fish in the Cichlidae family Spathodus is a small Genus of two Cichlid species endemic to Lake Tanganyika in East Africa. Steatocranus ( Boulenger, 1899 is a small Genus of rheophilic Cichlid Fish primarily endemic to the Congo River in West UserPolbot. --> Stigmatochromis is a genus of Fish in the Cichlidae family UserPolbot. --> Stomatepia is a genus of Fish in the Cichlidae family Discus ( Symphysodon spp are a genus of three species of freshwater cichlid Fishes native to the Amazon River basin UserPolbot. --> Taeniochromis is a genus of Fish in the Cichlidae family Taeniolethrinops is a small Genus of Cichlids with only four species Tahuantinsuyoa is a small Genus of Cichlids with only two species UserPolbot. --> Tangachromis is a genus of Fish in the Cichlidae family Tanganicodus is a Monotypic Cichlid Genus whose single representative Tanganicodus irsacae, is endemic to Lake Tanganyika Teleocichla is a small Genus of seven Cichlid species endemic to the Amazon River Basin in South America. Teleogramma is a small Genus of Cichlids with only four species Telmatochromis is a small Cichlid Genus of the Subfamily Pseudocrenilabrinae. Theraps is a small Genus of Cichlids with only four species Thoracochromis is a small Genus of Cichlids with only four species Thorichthys is a group of central American cichlids with somewhat pointy heads and stripes down their body Albert Stewart Meek (1871–1943 was an English Bird collector and naturalist. Tilapia is a large Genus of Cichlid fishes endemic to Africa The common name " Tilapia " is also used for Tilapia (təˌlɑpiə is the common name for nearly a hundred Species of Cichlid Fishes from the Tilapiine cichlid tribe Tomocichla is a genus of Freshwater Fishes in the Cichlid family that is restricted to Central America UserPolbot. --> Tramitichromis is a genus of Fish in the Cichlidae family UserPolbot. --> Trematocara is a genus of Fish in the Cichlidae family endemic to Lake Tanganyika UserPolbot. --> Trematocranus is a genus of Fish in the Cichlidae family UserPolbot. --> Triglachromis is a genus of Fish in the Cichlidae family UserPolbot. --> Tristramella is a genus of Fish in the Cichlidae family UserPolbot. --> Tropheops is a genus of Fish in the Cichlidae family Tropheus is a small Genus of six Species of Cichlid Fish endemic to Lake Tanganyika in East Africa. UserPolbot. --> Tylochromis is a genus of Fish in the Cichlidae family comprising 18 species all endemic UserPolbot. --> Tyrannochromis is a genus of Fish in the Cichlidae family Uaru is a small Genus of Cichlid fishes with only two species Variabilichromis is a Monotypic Genus of fish in the family Cichlidae which occurs in Lake Tanganyika, of the Rift lakes Vieja is a Genus of Fish from the family Cichlidae. The geographic distribution of the genus is limited to Central America UserPolbot. --> Xenochromis is a genus of Fish in the Cichlidae family Xenotilapia is a Genus of 17 Cichlid species endemic to Lake Tanganyika in East Africa. UserPolbot. --> Xystichromis is a genus of Fish in the Cichlidae family Astronotus ocellatus is a species of Fish from the Cichlid family known under a variety of common names including oscar, tiger Fishkeeping is a popular Hobby concerned with keeping Fish in the home Aquarium or garden Pond.	The butterfly peacock bass (Cichla ocellaris) was introduced intentionally in Florida as gamefish. Peacock bass is the common name in English for several Species of Tropical, Freshwater fish of the Genus Cichla Florida ( is a state located in the southeastern region of the United States, bordering Alabama to the northwest and Georgia to the Recreational fishing, also called sport fishing, is Fishing for Pleasure or Competition.	The Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) is farmed extensively as food fish in many parts of the world	The angelfish (Pterophyllum scalare) has long been commercially bred for the aquarium trade. The Nile Tilapia, Oreochromis niloticus is a Cichlid fish of African origin which is native from Syria into east Africa through the Pterophyllum is a small Genus of freshwater fish from the family Cichlidae known to most aquarists as "Angelfish"
Sexual dimorphism is common in cichlids. Sexual dimorphism is the systematic difference in form between individuals of different Sex in the same Species. Shown here is a male (front) and a female (rear) Maylandia lombardoi	A pair of blue rams (Mikrogeophagus ramirezi), male in front, female behind. Maylandia lombardoi, is a 13 cm (5 in) Freshwater fish from the family Cichlidae, the species is popular in the Aquarium hobby Mikrogeophagus ramirezi is a species of Freshwater Fish endemic to the Orinoco River basin in the Savannahs of Venezuela Many cichlids form strong pair bonds while breeding. In Biology, a pair bond is the strong affinity that develops in some Species between the Male and Female in a breeding pair	A discus (Symphysodon spp.) is guarding its eggs. Discus ( Symphysodon spp are a genus of three species of freshwater cichlid Fishes native to the Amazon River basin Advanced broodcare is one of the defining characteristics of cichlids.	Lake Malawi, Eastern Africa is home to numerous cichild species including this Livingston's cichlid (Nimbochromis livingstonii)
A shell-brooding cichlid of the genus Lamprologus from Lake Tanganyika in East Africa	The Texas cichlid (Herichthys cyanoguttatus) is the only cichlid native to the USA	Pelvicachromis pulcher is a West African riverine cichlid, and part of the aquarists dwarf cichlid group. Lake Malawi (also known as Lake Nyasa, Lake Nyassa, Lake Niassa, and Lago Niassa in Mozambique) is the most southerly Lake Nimbochromis livingstonii, or Livingston's cichlid, is a Freshwater Mouthbrooding Cichlid fish of the Genus The terms shell dwellers or shelldwellers, shell-breeding, or ostracophil are descriptive terms for Cichlid Fish that use the empty Lamprologus is a genus of fishes from the family Cichlidae. The type species for this genus is Lamprologus congoensis a Riverine cichlid from Lake Tanganyika is a large Lake in central Africa (3° 20' to 8° 48' South and from 29° 5' to 31° 15' East East Africa is the Easternmost Region of the African Continent. The Texas cichlid ( Herichthys cyanoguttatus, formerly Cichlasoma cyanoguttatum) is a Freshwater Fish of the cichlid The United States of America —commonly referred to as the Pelvicachromis pulcher is a freshwater fish of the Cichlid family endemic to Nigeria and Cameroon. West Africa or Western Africa is the Westernmost Region of the African Continent. Dwarf cichlid is a term used by Fishkeeping hobbyists to describe an arbitrary assemblage of small-sized Fish from the familiy Cichlidae.	The flowerhorn cichlid is a man-made hybrid that has recently gained popularity among aquarists, particularly in Asia. The Flowerhorn, also called Luohan (Luo Han is a intergeneric Cichlid hybrid. In Biology, hybrid has two meanings The first meaning is the result of interbreeding between two animals or plants of different taxa.
Texas Cichlid (Herichthys cyanoguttatus)	A pair of Egyptian mouthbrooders (Pseudocrenilabrus multicolor). UserPolbot. -->The Egyptian mouthbrooder ( Pseudocrenilabrus multicolor) is a species of Fish in the

See also

• Perciformes
• Aquaculture
• Fishkeeping
• Aquarium

References

Further reading

• Barlow, G. W. (2000). The Cichlid fishes. Cambridge MA: Perseus Publishing.
• Cichlidae (TSN 169770). Integrated Taxonomic Information System. Integrated Taxonomic Information System ( ITIS) is a partnership designed to provide consistent and reliable information on the Taxonomy of biological Species : National Museum of Natural History, Washington, D. C. , 2004-05-11).

External links

• Lost African Lake Spawned Fish Diversity "Beyond Belief" Discussing the biodiversity of cichlids.
• The Cichlid Fishes of Lake Malawi by Dr. Michael Oliver.
• An incomplete listing of cichlid genera and species, with phylogenetic context
• Cichlid Room Companion by Juan Miguel Artigas Azas.