Cichlidae
Greenface Aulonocara
Aulonocara saulosi
FISH SPECIES
Cichlids
Cichlids belong to the family Cichlidae and are especially diverse in Africa and the Americas. The family includes small, colorful specialists as well as larger food and game fish.
FISH ATLAS / FIELD GUIDECichlidsIN THIS CHAPTER01 / Characteristics02 / Lifestyle03 / Species04 / Field notes
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01 / NATURAL HISTORY
Characteristics
A single nostril on each side of the head and specialized throat jaws help characterize the family. Cichlids are also known for varied feeding strategies and unusually diverse parental care.
- 01African rift-lake cichlids
- 02South American cichlids
- 03Tilapias
02 / LIFESTYLE
Lifestyle
Cichlid life histories are renowned for intricate social hierarchies, territorial zoning and exceptional parental investments. Breeding adults carefully clean substrates for spawning, vigorously ward off egg predators, and in mouthbrooding lineages, protect developing embryos inside the buccal cavity for weeks. Complex body posturing, fin flares and color transformations establish dominance without lethal physical conflict.
OBSERVATION INDEX
- Substrate preparation and guarding
- Buccal mouthbrooding of fry
- Visual displays and hierarchy disputes
03 / SPECIES
Representative species
Discover representative species illustrating the ecological diversity, morphologies and adaptations of this group.
Greenface Aulonocara
Cichlidae
Greenface Sandsifter
Lethrinops furcifer
Cichlidae
Greenstreaked eartheater
Biotodoma cupido
Cichlidae
Greenwood's happy
Sargochromis greenwoodi
Cichlidae
Grey Madagascar cichlid
Ptychochromis inornatus
Cichlidae
Guapote
Parachromis dovii
Cichlidae
Guayas cichlid
Mesoheros festae
Cichlidae
Guenther's mouthbrooder
Chromidotilapia guntheri
Cichlidae
Guinean Tilapia
Coptodon discolor
Cichlidae
Guinean tilapia
Coptodon guineensis
Cichlidae
Guyana Flag Cichlid
Mesonauta guyanae
Cichlidae
Haitian cichlid
Nandopsis haitiensis
Cichlidae
Half-striped Pike Cichlid
Crenicichla semifasciata
Cichlidae
Halfbanded pike cichlid
Crenicichla geayi
Cichlidae
Haplochromis borleyi redfin
Copadichromis borleyi
Cichlidae
Haplochromis quads
Copadichromis mbenjii
Cichlidae
Happy
Copadichromis azureus
Cichlidae
Happy
Copadichromis chrysonotus
Cichlidae
Happy
Copadichromis cyaneus
Cichlidae
Happy
Copadichromis jacksoni
Cichlidae
Happy
Copadichromis mloto
Cichlidae
Happy
Copadichromis pleurostigma
Cichlidae
Happy
Copadichromis pleurostigmoides
Cichlidae
Happy
Copadichromis quadrimaculatus
04 / FIELD NOTES
A closer look
How does mouthbrooding work in cichlids?
In mouthbrooding species, a parent gathers fertilized eggs into their buccal cavity, gently churning and oxygenating them for weeks until fry develop and can swim independently.
Where is cichlid diversity highest in the world?
Africa's Great Rift Valley lakes (Victoria, Tanganyika, and Malawi) and the freshwater basins of Central and South America support thousands of ecologically diverse cichlid species.
Why are cichlids famously aggressive in aquariums?
Most cichlids possess strong territorial instincts rooted in defending substrate spawning sites and food boundaries, reacting vigorously to perceived visual rivals.