Cichlid

Encyclopedia : C : CI : CIC : Cichlid

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Cichlids (pronounced “sick-lids”) are fishes from the family Cichlidae in the order Perciformes. The family Cichlidae, a major family of perciform fish, is both large and diverse. It includes some 2500 species, in sizes that range from ca. 2.5 cm (e.g. some small Neolamprologus species and Apistogramma) to close to a metre (Boulengerochromis and Cichla), and with morphologies ranging from highly compressed (eg. Altolamprologus, Pterophyllum and Symphysodon) to extremely elongated (eg. Teleogramma, Teleocichla, Crenicichla and Gobiocichla).

Some species, particularly Tilapia spp. are important food fishes, while many others are valued aquarium fishes (see cichlids as aquarium fish).

Characteristics of cichlids

The common features of cichlids include:

• a single nostril on each side of the forhead instead of two (a characteristic they share only with damselfish)
• an interrupted lateral line organ (except for genera Teleogramma and Gobiocichla)
• a distinctive shape of one of the otoliths
• the small intestine leaves the stomach from its left side, not from its right side as in other fish.
• the presence of teeth in both the jaws and in the throat.

Range

Cichlids are mainly freshwater fish and inhabit most of the Paleotropics from southern Texas southward to most of South America, Africa, Madagascar and the islands of Cuba and Hispañola. A small number of species are commonly found in brackish water of varying salinities. A few species of cichlids are found in Israel, Iran and southern India and Sri Lanka. In Africa cichlids are widespread, occurring in the rift lakes (Lake Malawi, Lake Tanganyika), and virtually all other natural lakes and riverine habitats.

Diet

Diets are also diverse: generalized predators, plankton-feeders, herbivores, piscivores, scale-eaters, spongivores, fin eaters, insectivores, molluscivores, detritivores, and paedophores (eat other species' eggs or young). Scientists believe it is 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 cichlid so many 'niche' feeding behaviors, i.e. the jaws may be used to hold or pick food, while the pharyngeal teeth are used to crush what was harvested.

Genera

Source: Froese, R. and D. Pauly. Editors. 2006.FishBase. World Wide Web electronic publication. www.fishbase.org, version (03/2006). As of 2006, there are 223 genera.

Acarichthys Eigenmann 1912 Acaronia Myers 1940 Aequidens Eigenmann & Bray 1894 Allochromis Greenwood 1980 Alticorpus Stauffer & McKaye 1988 Altolamprologus Poll 1986 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 Cleptochromis Greenwood 1980 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 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 Julidochromis Boulenger 1898 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 Metriaclima/Maylandia Stauffer 1997 (for information on the Maylandia vs. Metriaclima debate see: Maylandia. Please discuss this on the articles discussion page before editing) 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 Gunther 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 Ptyochromis Greenwood 1980 Pundamilia Seehausen & Lippitsch 1998 Pungu Trewavas 1972 Pyxichromis Greenwood 1980 Reganochromis Whitley 1929 Retroculus Eigenmann & Bray 1894 Rhamphochromis Regan 1922 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 Tomocichla Regan 1908 Tramitichromis Eccles & Trewavas 1989 Trematocara Boulenger 1899 Trematochromis Poll 1987 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 Yssichromis Greenwood 1980

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 or months old. The discus fish (Symphysodon species) are noted to feed their young with a secretion on the skin from slime glands. Other South American, some Central American and Madagascan cichlds have also been observed with fry feeding on their parents, but not to the extent of the discus. Parental care falls into one of three categories: mouthbrooders, substrate brooders, and delayed mouthbrooding where the eggs are laid in the open or in a cave, and subsequently brooded in the mouth(s) of the parents.

Endangered cichlids

Because of the introduced nile perch and water hyacinth, deforestation causing siltation of water, and overfishing, many species of Lake Victorian cichlids have been wiped out or drastically reduced in the wild. Thankfully, the myriad of satellite lakes surrounding Lake Victoria have not been effected, and harbor a vast array of similar species.

Cichlids as aquarium fish

Cichlid keeping aquarists tend to divide cichlids into groups based on regions such as Central America, South America, Madagascar and India, Lake Tanganyika, Lake Malawi and Lake Victoria. It is noteworthy that most cichlids are not the most peaceful aquarium residents, though there are exceptions to this rule.

Cichlids from Lake Tanganyika were first collected by German hobbyists during the 1930's. However, it was during the 1970s and 80s that the cichlids from lakes Tanganyika and Malawi began to become popular aquarium fishes. This trend continues to the present unabated.

Perhaps the most commonly encountered species in retail aquariums is Pterophyllum scalare, known in the trade as the "angelfish". Other cichlids commonly stocked by retail aquaria include:

• Astonotus ocellatus (oscars)
• Cleithracara maronii (keyhole cichlids)
• Hemichromis sp. (Jewel cichlids)
• Labidochromis caeruleus (electric yellows)
• Mikrogeophagus ramirezi (blue rams)
• Pelvicachromis pulcher (kribensis)
• Sciaenochromis fryeri (electric blues)

Species of cichlid can be kept in aquariums with other fish, however, many cichlids are aggressively territorial or predatious. Conversely, some cichlids, such as Apistogramma or Julidochromis spp., can be timid in the aquarium. In such cases the use of dither fish is recommended.

External links (A-Z)

Aquarium care

• [Aquahobby.com]
• [AmericanCichlids.Com]
• [Cichlid City] Articles & photos on cichlids.
• [Cichlid Info] Articles on keeping and breeding cichlids.
• [Cichlids of Central America]
• [Flower horn cichlid] Information about hybrid cichlids.
• [World of Jack Dempsey Cichlid] Information about Cichlasoma octofasciatum
• [Midas Cichlid] Information about Amphilophus Citrinellus

General information

• [Lost African Lake Spawned Fish Diversity "Beyond Belief"] Article discussing the biodiversity of cichlids.
• [Cichlid Room Companion]
• [FishBase.org] The most current listing of cichlid taxonomy (see before editing)
• [The Cichlid Fishes of Lake Malawi] by Dr. Michael Oliver.
• [An incomplete listing] of cichlid genera and species, with phylogenetic context
• [CICHLIDE38] The Cichlids of the lake Malawi localization of species and cartography

Forums & Discussions (A-Z, by country)

Australia

• [Australian Cichlid Enthusiasts Forum]
• [Cichlid City Forum]

United States of America

• [Cichlid-Forum]
• [The New World and African Cichlid Forums]

References

• The South African zoological society
• Salzburger W, Mack T, Verheyen E, Meyer A (2005) Out of Tanganyika: Genesis, explosive speciation, key-innovations and phylogeography of the haplochromine cichlid fishes BMC Evolutionary Biology 5:17.
• Barlow (2000) On The Chiclid Fishes
• Snoeks (ed.) (2004) on The cichlid diversity of Lake Malawi: Identification, distribution and taxonomy
• 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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