Cichlidae
Chisumulu pearl
Labidochromis flavigulis
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.
Chisumulu pearl
Cichlidae
Chitande Aulonocara
Aulonocara ethelwynnae
Cichlidae
Chizumulu Aulonocara
Aulonocara korneliae
Cichlidae
chocolate cichlid
Hypselecara coryphaenoides
Cichlidae
Chromo Victoria Cichlid
Haplochromis chromogynos
Cichlidae
Cichlasoma portalegrensis
Cichlasoma portalegrense
Cichlidae
Cichlid
Astatotilapia tweddlei
Cichlidae
Cichlid
Australoheros guarani
Cichlidae
Cichlid
Gymnogeophagus che
Cichlidae
Cichlid
Haplochromis antleter
Cichlidae
Cichlid
Haplochromis barbarae
Cichlidae
Cichlid
Haplochromis bwathondii
Cichlidae
Cichlid
Haplochromis chilotes
Cichlidae
Cichlid
Haplochromis labiatus
Cichlidae
Cichlid
Haplochromis latifasciatus
Cichlidae
Cichlid
Haplochromis paraguiarti
Cichlidae
Cichlid
Haplochromis vanoijeni
Cichlidae
Cichlid
Paragobiocichla irvinei
Cichlidae
Cichlid
Paretroplus dambabe
Cichlidae
Cichlid
Paretroplus maromandia
Cichlidae
Cichlid
Paretroplus polyactis
Cichlidae
Cinderella cichlid
Teleocichla cinderella
Cichlidae
Cobalt Zebra Cichlid
Maylandia callainos
Cichlidae
Cockatoo cichlid
Apistogramma cacatuoides
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.