Cichlidae
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Copadichromis verduyni
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.
Happy
Cichlidae
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Corematodus shiranus
Cichlidae
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Corematodus taeniatus
Cichlidae
Happy
Mchenga conophoros
Cichlidae
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Mylochromis anaphyrmus
Cichlidae
Happy
Mylochromis epichorialis
Cichlidae
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Mylochromis ericotaenia
Cichlidae
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Mylochromis formosus
Cichlidae
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Naevochromis chrysogaster
Cichlidae
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Placidochromis subocularis
Cichlidae
Harlequin Cichlid
Amphilophus hogaboomorum
Cichlidae
Harrer's Geophagus
Guianacara sphenozona
Cichlidae
High-finned Madagascar cichlid
Ptychochromis grandidieri
Cichlidae
Highfin Apisto
Apistogramma hoignei
Cichlidae
Hoehne's Dwarf Cichlid
Rondonacara hoehnei
Cichlidae
Hore's haplo
Shuja horei
Cichlidae
Huallaga Cichlid
Bujurquina huallagae
Cichlidae
Hump-head
Cyrtocara moorii
Cichlidae
Humpback largemouth
Serranochromis altus
Cichlidae
Humphead cichlid
Cyphotilapia frontosa
Cichlidae
Humphead cichlid
Cyphotilapia gibberosa
Cichlidae
Humphead Dwarf Acara
Laetacara araguaiae
Cichlidae
Humphead Madagascar cichlid
Katria katria
Cichlidae
Igara Pike Cichlid
Crenicichla igara
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.