Cichlid Types And Characteristics Of Cichlid Range

The family Cichlidae is large and very diverse, and is one of the most important families of fish and is a major vertebrate family. It includes some 2000 species, in sizes that range from ca. 3 cm (e.g. Apistogramma) to close to a meter (Boulengerochromis, Cichla), and with morphologies ranging from highly compressed (Pterophyllum, Symphysodon) to extremely elongated (Teleogramma, some Crenicichla spp.). Some species are important food fishes, and many other are valued aquariumAn aquarium is a clear-sided container (typically constructed of glass or high-strength plastic) in which water-dwelling plants and animals (usually fish) are kept in captivity. The term is also used of a public establishment that maintains a number of aq fishes. Some notable aquarium cichlids are the angelfishPterophyllum altum ''Pterophyllum leopoldi ''Pterophyllum scalare Freshwater angelfish are cichlids that originate around the Amazon River basin with a striking, compressed body shape and long extended dorsal and anal fins. The fish are often taller than, discus, Jack DempseyFish Jack Dempsey Scientific classification Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Chordata Class: Actinopterygii Order: Perciformes Family: Cichlidae Genus Cichlasoma Species octofasciatum Binomial name ''Cichlasoma octofasciatum The Jack Dempsey Cichlasoma octofasci and the oscar.

2 Range

Cichlids are secondary freshwater fish and inhabit most of the Paleotropics ( Africa) and the Neotropics ( Americas south of ca. 30 deg N). A few species are also found in Asia. African lakes are particularly rich in Cihlid species.

3 Diet

Diets are also diverse: generalized predators, plankton-feeders, herbivores, piscivore s, scale-eaters, paedophagus (eat other species' young). Scientists believe it is this wide adaptability of feeding styles that has helped the fish of cichlidae to inhabit such a wide range of biotopes. It is largely the pharyngeal teeth (teeth in the throat) that allows the cichlid so many 'niche' feeding behaviors. eg: the jaws may be used to hold or pick food, while the pharyngeal teeth are used to crush what was harvested.

4 Reproduction

All species show some form of parental care for both eggs and larvae, often extended to free-swimming young until they are several weeks old. Parental care falls into one of three categories: mouthbrood ers, substrate brooders, and those that substrate brood the eggs and then mouthbrood the young.

5 Cichlids as aquarium fish

During the 1960s and 70s, the lakes of the Great Rift Valley in Africa were discovered by aquarists, and the great wealth of cichlids endemic to those lakes became a goldmine of novelties for aquarists. Most popular were Lake Tanganyika and Lake Malawi, and many of the species from those lakes remain common in the hobby.

Aquarium cichlids are not the most peaceful aquarium residents, though behaviour varies, and so do their water quality demands and feeding habits.

The main groups of cichlids kept in aquariums

American cichlids
- Heroines, acaras, eartheaters, and other large cichlids
- Dwarf cichlids (Apistogramma etc)
- Other (including angelfish, discus)
African cichlids
- Rift valley cichlids
  - Lake Tanganyika
  - Lake Malawi (including Electric Yellow)
  - Lake Victoria
  - Lake Rudolph and other
- Tilapias
- Other African cichlids
Asian cichlids

6 External links

A more or less complete listing of cichlid genus and species, with phylogenetic context

7 References

Barlow, G. W. (2000). The Cichlid fishes. Cambridge MA: Perseus Publishing.
"Cichlidae." ITIS Standard Report. ( Integrated Taxonomic Information System: National Museum of Natural History, Washington, D.C., 2004-05-11). ITIS 169770
"Family Cichlidae - Cichlids." FishBase. ed. Froese, R. and D. Pauly (04/2004), Cichlidae

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1 Types and characteristics of cichlid