Everything about Cichlidae totally explained
Cichlids are
fishes from the
family Cichlidae in the order
Perciformes. The family Cichlidae, a major family of perciform fish, is both large and diverse. There are at least 1300
scientifically described species, making it one of the three largest
vertebrate families. Numerous new species are discovered annually, and many species remain undescribed. The actual number of species is therefore unclear, with a 2007 estimate varying between 1300 and 3000 species, and one 1998 source suggesting 1900 species. Cichlids span a wide range of body sizes, from species as small as 2.5
centimetres (1.0
in) in length (for example female
Neolamprologus multifasciatus ) to much larger species approaching 1
metre (3
ft) in length (for example
Boulengerochromis and
Cichla). 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). 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.
Many cichlids, particularly the
tilapias, are important food fishes, while others are valued game fish (eg.
Cichla species). Many species, including the
angelfish,
oscars, and
discus, are also highly valued in the
aquarium trade. Cichlids are also the family of vertebrates with the largest number of
endangered species, most of these found in the
haplochromine group. 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, . The diversity of cichlids in the African Great Lakes is important for the study of speciation in evolution. 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.
Anatomy and appearance
Cichlids are members of a group of
perciform fish known as the
Labroidei alongside the wrasses
Labridae, damselfish
Pomacentridae, and surfperches
Embiotocidae.
The particular features of cichlids that distinguish them from the other Labroidei include:]]
Cichlids are the most species-rich non-
Ostariophysan family in
freshwaters worldwide. They are mainly freshwater fish that are most diverse in
Africa and
South America. It is estimated that there will be at least 1600 species in Africa alone when all are discovered and described.
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.
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.
Diet
Cichlids are astonishingly diverse in terms of diet. Many are primarily
herbivores feeding on
algae (for example
Petrochromis) and
plants (for example
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.
Other cichlids are
predatory and eat little if any plant matter. These include generalists that catch a variety of small animals including other fishes and insect larvae (for example
Pterophyllum), as well as variety of specialists.
Trematocranus is a specialised
snail-eater, while
Pungu maclareni feeds on
sponges. 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.
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). Among the more unusual feeding strategies are those of
Corematodus spp.,
Docimodus evelynae,
Plecodus,
Perissodus and
Genyochromis species, which feed on scales and fins of other fishes, a behaviour known as
lepidophagy along with the death mimicking behaviour of
Nimbochromis and
Parachromis species, which lay motionless, luring small fish to their side prior to ambush.
Scientists believe it's 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, for example the jaws may be used to hold or pick food, while the pharyngeal teeth are used to crush what was harvested.
Reproduction
Brood care
All species show some form of parental care for both
eggs and
larvae, often extended to free-swimming young until they're several weeks or months old. Species of this family have highly organized breeding activities.), and at least two types of mouthbrooding,
ovophile mouthbrooding and
larvophile mouthbrooding.
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. 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. 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.
Ovophile mouthbrooders incubate their eggs in their mouths as soon as they're laid, and frequently continue to brood free-swimming fry in their mouths for several weeks. 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. 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. This method is common and appears to have evolved independently in several groups of African cichlids.
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. 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.
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. 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.]] 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. Some surviving cichlids, however, have adapted to the new threats by becoming smaller or hybridising with other species. The most important food cichlids, however, are the
tilapiines of North Africa. 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, 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. Other cichlids preferred by anglers include the
oscar,
Mayan cichlid (
Cichlasoma urophthalmus), and
jaguar guapote (
Parachromis managuensis). 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. This isn't particularly unusual, having been observed among other groups of fishes, such as European
cyprinids. 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. The red strain of
tilapia hybrid, for example, is often preferred in
aquaculture as they've faster growth rates. Tilapia hybridisation is also used to produce all-male populations to control stock density and prohibit reproduction in ponds. 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 popularity of the flowerhorn cichlid declined in 2004, 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.
Numerous cichlid species have also been the subject of
selective breeding programmes to develop new ornamental strains for the aquarium trade. The most intensive selective breeding programs have involved
angelfish and
discus and many
mutations that effect both colouration and finnage are known. Many other cichlids have been selecively bred for
albino,
leucistic and
xanthistic pigment mutations including
oscars,
convicts and
Pelvicachromis pulcher. In
convict cichlids, for example, a
leucistic colouration is
recessively inherited, while in
Oreochromis niloticus niloticus red colouration is caused by an
dominantly inherited mutation.
These efforts at selectively breeding may, however, have
unintended consequences. For example, some selectively bred strains of
Mikrogeophagus ramirezi have health and fertility problems. Similarly, the
inbreeding involved in selective breeding programmes can cause severe physical abnormalies such as the notched
phenotype in
angelfish.
Genera
As of 2006, there were some 220 genera:
| Acarichthys Eigenmann 1912
Acaronia Myers 1940
Aequidens Eigenmann & Bray 1894
Allochromis Greenwood 1980
Alticorpus Stauffer & McKaye 1988
Altolamprologus Poll 1986
Amatitlania Schmitter-Soto, 2007
Amphilophus Agassiz, 1859
Anomalochromis Greenwood 1985
Apistogramma Regan 1913
Apistogrammoides Meinken 1965
Archocentrus Gill 1877
Aristochromis Trewavas, 1935
Astatoreochromis Pellegrin 1904
Astatotilapia Pellegrin 1904
Astronotus Swainson 1839
Aulonocara Regan 1922
Aulonocranus Regan 1920
Australoheros Rican & Kullander 2006
Baileychromis Poll 1986
Bathybates Boulenger 1898
Benitochromis Lamboj 2001
Benthochromis Poll 1986
Biotodoma Eigenmann & Kennedy 1903
Biotoecus Eigenmann & Kennedy 1903
Boulengerochromis Pellegrin 1904
Buccochromis Eccles & Trewavas 1989
Bujurquina Kullander 1986
Callochromis Regan 1920
Caprichromis Eccles & Trewavas 1989
Caquetaia Fowler 1945
Cardiopharynx Poll 1942
Chaetobranchopsis Steindachner, 1875
Chaetobranchus Heckel, 1840
Chalinochromis Poll 1974
Champsochromis Boulenger 1915
Cheilochromis Eccles & Trewavas 1989
Chetia Trewavas 1961
Chilochromis Boulenger 1902
Chilotilapia Boulenger 1908
Chromidotilapia Boulenger 1898
Cichla Bloch & Schneider 1801
Cichlasoma Swainson 1839
Cleithracara Kullander & Nijssen 1989
Congochromis Stiassny & Schliewen 2007
Copadichromis Eccles & Trewavas 1989
Corematodus Boulenger 1897
Crenicara Steindachner 1875
Crenicichla Heckel 1840
Ctenochromis Pfeffer 1893
Ctenopharynx Eccles & Trewavas 1989
Cunningtonia Boulenger 1906
Cyathochromis Trewavas 1935
Cyathopharynx Regan 1920
Cyclopharynx Poll 1948
Cynotilapia Regan 1922
Cyphotilapia Regan 1920
Cyprichromis Scheuermann 1977
Cyrtocara Boulenger 1902
Danakilia Thys van den Audenaerde 1969
Dicrossus Steindachner 1875
Dimidiochromis Eccles & Trewavas 1989
Diplotaxodon Trewavas 1935
Divandu Lamboj & Snoeks 2000
Docimodus Boulenger 1897
Eclectochromis Eccles & Trewavas 1989
Ectodus Boulenger 1898
Enterochromis Greenwood 1980
Eretmodus Boulenger 1898
Etia Schliewen & Stiassny 2003
Etroplus Cuvier 1830
Exochochromis Eccles & Trewavas 1989
Fossorochromis Eccles & Trewavas 1989
Gaurochromis Greenwood 1980
Genyochromis Trewavas 1935
Geophagus Heckel 1840
Gephyrochromis Boulenger 1901
Gnathochromis Poll 1981
Gobiocichla Kanazawa 1951
|
Grammatotria Boulenger 1899
Greenwoodochromis Poll 1983
Guianacara Kullander & Nijssen 1989
Gymnogeophagus Miranda Ribeiro 1918
Haplochromis Hilgendorf 1888
Haplotaxodon Boulenger 1906
Harpagochromis Greenwood 1980
Hemibates Regan 1920
Hemichromis Peters 1857
Hemitaeniochromis Eccles & Trewavas 1989
Hemitilapia Boulenger 1902
Herichthys Baird & Girard 1854
Heros Heckel, 1840
Herotilapia Pellegrin 1904
Heterochromis Regan 1922
Hoplarchus Kaup,1860
Hoplotilapia Hilgendorf 1888
Hypselecara Kullander 1986
Hypsophrys Agassiz 1859
Interochromis Yamaoka, Hori & Kuwamura 1988
Iodotropheus Oliver & Loiselle 1972
Iranocichla Coad 1982
Ivanacara Romer & Hahn 2006
Julidochromis Boulenger 1898
Katria Stiassny & Sparks 2006
Konia Trewavas 1972
Krobia Kullander & Nijssen 1989
Labeotropheus Ahl 1926
Labidochromis Trewavas 1935
Labrochromis Greenwood 1980
Laetacara Kullander 1986
Lamprologus Schilthuis 1891
Lepidiolamprologus Pellegrin 1904
Lestradea Poll 1943
Lethrinops Regan 1922
Lichnochromis Trewavas 1935
Limbochromis Greenwood 1987
Limnochromis Regan 1920
Limnotilapia Regan 1920
Lipochromis Greenwood 1980
Lithochromis Lippitsch & Seehausen 1998
Lobochilotes Boulenger 1915
Macropleurodus Regan 1922
Maylandia Meyer & Foerster 1984
Mazarunia Kullander 1990
Mbipia Lippitsch & Seehausen 1998
Mchenga Stauffer & Konings, 2006
Melanochromis Trewavas, 1935
Mesonauta Günther, 1862
Microchromis Johnson 1975
Mikrogeophagus Meulengracht-Madson 1968
Myaka Trewavas 1972
Mylacochromis Greenwood 1980
Mylochromis Regan 1920
Naevochromis Eccles & Trewavas 1989
Nandopsis Gill, 1862
Nannacara Regan]] 1905
Nanochromis Pellegrin 1904
Neetroplus Günther, 1867
Neochromis Regan 1920
Neolamprologus Colombe & Allgayer 1985
Nimbochromis Eccles & Trewavas 1989
Nyassachromis Eccles & Trewavas 1989
Ophthalmotilapia Pellegrin 1904
Oreochromis Günther 1889
Orthochromis Greenwood 1954
Otopharynx Regan 1920
Oxylapia Kiener & Maugé 1966
Pallidochromis Turner 1994
Parachromis Agassiz 1859
Paracyprichromis Poll 1986
Paralabidochromis Greenwood 1956
Parananochromis Greenwood 1987
Paraneetroplus Regan 1905
|
Paratilapia Bleeker, 1868
Paretroplus Bleeker, 1868
Pelmatochromis Steindachner 1894
Pelvicachromis Thys van den Audenaerde 1968
Perissodus Boulenger 1898
Petenia Günther, 1862
Petrochromis Boulenger 1898
Petrotilapia Trewavas 1935
Pharyngochromis Greenwood 1979
Placidochromis Eccles & Trewavas 1989
Platytaeniodus Boulenger 1906
Plecodus Boulenger 1898
Prognathochromis Greenwood 1980
Protomelas Eccles & Trewavas 1989
Psammochromis Greenwood 1980
Pseudocrenilabrus Fowler 1934
Pseudosimochromis Nelissen 1977
Pseudotropheus Regan 1922
Pterochromis Trewavas 1973
Pterophyllum Heckel 1840
Ptychochromis Steindachner 1880
Ptychochromoides Kiener & Mauge 1966
Ptyochromis Greenwood 1980
Pundamilia Seehausen & Lippitsch 1998
Pungu Trewavas 1972
Pyxichromis Greenwood 1980
Reganochromis Whitley 1929
Retroculus Eigenmann & Bray 1894
Rhamphochromis Regan 1922
Rocio Schmitter-Soto, 2007
Sargochromis Regan 1920
Sarotherodon Rppell 1852
Satanoperca Günther, 1862
Schubotzia Boulenger 1914
Schwetzochromis Poll 1948
Sciaenochromis Eccles & Trewavas 1989
Serranochromis Regan 1920
Simochromis Boulenger 1898
Spathodus Boulenger 1900
Steatocranus Boulenger 1899
Stigmatochromis Eccles & Trewavas 1989
Stomatepia Trewavas 1962
Symphysodon Heckel 1840
Taeniacara Myers 1935
Taeniochromis Eccles & Trewavas 1989
Taeniolethrinops Eccles & Trewavas 1989
Tahuantinsuyoa Kullander 1991
Tangachromis Poll 1981
Tanganicodus Poll 1950
Teleocichla Kullander 1988
Teleogramma Boulenger 1899
Telmatochromis Boulenger 1898
Theraps Günther, 1862
Thoracochromis Greenwood 1979
Thorichthys Meek 1904
Thysochromis Daget 1988
Tilapia Smith, 1840 See also: Tilapiine cichlids
Tomocichla Regan 1908
Tramitichromis Eccles & Trewavas 1989
Trematocara Boulenger 1899
Trematocranus Trewavas 1935
Triglachromis Poll & Thys van den Audenaerde 1974
Tristramella Trewavas 1942
Tridontochromis Greenwood 1980
Tropheops Trewavas 1984
Tropheus Boulenger 1898
Tylochromis Regan 1920
Tyrannochromis Eccles & Trewavas 1989
Uaru Heckel 1840
Variabilichromis Colombe & Allgayer 1985
Vieja Fernandez-Yepez 1969
Xenochromis Boulenger 1899
Xenotilapia Boulenger 1899
Xystichromis Greenwood 1980
Yissochromis Greenwood 1980
|
Images of cichlids
» Main gallery:
Image:Astronotus_ocellatus.jpg| The oscar (Astronotus ocellatus) is one of the most popular cichlids in the fishkeeping hobby.
Image:ButterflyPeacockBass 01.jpg| The butterfly peacock bass (Cichla ocellaris) was introduced intentionally in Florida as gamefish.
Image:Oreochromis niloticus.jpg| The Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) is farmed extensively as food fish in many parts of the world
Image:Pterophyllum scalare-narybek.jpg| The angelfish (Pterophyllum scalare) has long been commercially bred for the aquarium trade.
Image:Maylandia lombardoi.jpg| Sexual dimorphism is common in cichlids. Shown here's a male (front) and a female (rear) Maylandia lombardoi
Image:Mikrogeophagus.jpg| A pair of blue rams (Mikrogeophagus ramirezi), male in front, female behind. Many cichlids form strong pair bonds while breeding.
Image:Diskuslaich1a.jpeg| A discus (Symphysodon spp.) is guarding its eggs. Advanced broodcare is one of the defining characteristics of cichlids.
Image:Adult male livingstonii.gif| Lake Malawi, Eastern Africa is home to numerous cichild species including this Livingston's cichlid (Nimbochromis livingstonii)
Image:Lamprologusstappersimalemcl.jpg| A shell-brooding cichlid of the genus Lamprologus from Lake Tanganyika in East Africa
Image:Herichthys cyanoguttatum (Rio Grande Cichlid).jpg| The Texas cichlid (Herichthys cyanoguttatus) is the only cichlid native to the USA
Image:Pelvicachromis_pulcher_(female).jpg|Pelvicachromis pulcher is a West African riverine cichlid, and part of the aquarists dwarf cichlid group.
Image:Flowerhorn.jpg|The flowerhorn cichlid is a man-made hybrid that has recently gained popularity among aquarists, particularly in Asia.
Image:Pantapec_Cichlid.jpg| Texas Cichlid (Herichthys cyanoguttatus)
Image:Egyptian Mouthbrooders.jpg| A pair of Egyptian mouthbrooders (Pseudocrenilabrus multicolor).
Further Information
Get more info on 'Cichlidae'.
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