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| SCIENTIFIC
CLASSIFICATION |
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| COMMON
NAME: |
cichlid |
| KINGDOM: |
Animalia |
| PHYLUM: |
Chordata |
| CLASS: |
Osteichthyes |
| ORDER: |
Perciformes |
| FAMILY: |
Cichlidae |
| GENUS
SPECIES: |
Exact
number of species unknown; possibly over 1,000 |
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| DESCRIPTION: |
Most
cichlids have a classical fish-shaped body design
and they come in a rainbow of colors. |
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| SIZE: |
Some
species grow to only 4 cm (2 in.), but the largest
cichlid, Boulengerochromis microlepis, can
reach a size up to 90 cm (3 ft.). |
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| DIET: |
Feed
on a variety of zooplankton and phytoplankton such
as diatoms and green algae |
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| INCUBATION: |
Oviparous
(egg layers); many species of cichlids are mouth
brooders and some are substrate spawners |
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| RANGE: |
Central
and South America, tropical Africa, southeast
Asia, and the Indian subcontinent
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| HABITAT: |
Freshwater
or brackish lakes and
rivers
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| POPULATION: |
GLOBAL |
No
data |
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| STATUS: |
IUCN |
Several
species listed at various levels |
| CITES |
Not
listed |
| USFWS |
Not
listed |
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| 1. |
Special
Species
Cichlids are an extremely diverse family
of fishes, most of which are found in rift lakes
in Africa. There are more than 500 species in just
three lakes: Victoria, Malawi, and Tanganyika. Most
are specialized feeders, which allows many different
types to live together without much competition. |
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| 2. |
What's
for Dinner?
Among the predatory species, tastes differ
along with variations in jaw shape. Some mollusc
eaters crush the shells of their prey and eat
them whole, while others grab the extended foot
of the prey and suction them out of the shell.
Invertebrate eaters may pick through algae beds
or dig through the muddy bottom searching for
food. Species that feed on zooplankton
usually filter feed in the open water. And although
there are many piscivorous
species of cichlids, some eat only eggs, larvae,
or adults, or certain body parts of other fishes,
including scales, fins, and even eyes!
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| 3. |
Keeping
Count
New species of cichlids are discovered
every year. Because scientists don't know how many
types there are, creating conservation plans is
difficult. As with all animals that are intensely
specialized in adaptations or behavior, cichlids
are vulnerable to habitat changes, such as pollution
and the introduction of exotic species, which can
increase predation, competition, and hybridization.
Cichlids are also threatened by overfishing and
collection for the pet trade. |
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| 4. |
Many
types of cichlids are mouth-brooders. When spawning
begins, male blue tilapias dig a pit with their
mouths and fins in shallow water. They actively
defend their territories from other males while
courting females. An interested female lays eggs
by the male, which he then fertilizes. The female
takes the eggs in her mouth and swims off while
the male awaits another female (although in a few
tilapia species, males defend the female). The female
incubates and hatches her eggs in her mouth. For
about a week, the female allows the young to swim
back inside her mouth if danger is nearby. |
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| 5. |
Some
cichlids are substrate-spawners. With this type
of reproduction, the female lays a string of eggs,
which the male fertilizes. The male and female then
guard the eggs until they hatch. |
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| 6. |
For
more information about bony fishes, explore the
bony
fishes info book. |
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| Numerous
cichlid species can coexist together. For example,
of the 300 or so identified fish species in Lake
Malawi, Africa, more than 250 are cichlids. Because
they are colorful, peaceful, and hardy, they are
popular among aquarium enthusiasts. Some, such as
blue tilapias (Oreochromis aurea), have become
an important food source. Blue tilapias are raised
on fish farms in countries such as the United States.
Blue
tilapias, native to northern Africa and the Middle
East, were imported to Florida in 1961. They have
become established in lakes, ponds, rivers, streams,
and canals throughout southern and central Florida.
They grow rapidly during the first few years of
life. The majority of blue tilapias in Florida
range from 10-30 cm (4-12 in.) in length. The
largest specimen found was 53 cm (21 in.) in length
and weighed 4.5 kg (10 lb.).
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| Axelrod,
H.R., Burgess, W.E., Pronej, N. and Wall, J.G. Dr.
Axelrod's Atlas of Freshwater Aquarium Fishes.
Neptune City, NJ. T.F.H. Publications, Inc. 1997. |
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| Goldstein,
R.J. Cichlids of the World. Neptune City,
NJ. T.F.H. Publications, Inc. Ltd. 1973. |
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Konings,
A. Malawi Cichlids in their Natural Habitat,
2nd ed. Cichlid Press, Germany, 1995.
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|
Lagler,
K.F. et al. Ichthyology, 2nd ed. John Wiley
and Sons, NY, 1977.
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| Moyle,
P.B. and J.J. Cech, Jr. Fishes: An Introduction
to Ichthyology. Prentice Hall, NJ, 1988. |
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|
Wheeler,
A. Fishes of the World. New York. MacMillan
Publishing Co., Inc. 1975.
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| http://www.fishbase.org/ |
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| http://www.redlist.org/ |
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| BRACKISH:
an adjective used to describe water that contains
salt, but is not as salty as sea water |
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| HYBRIDIZATION:
the creation of offspring resulting from the mating
of two parents of different species or subspecies. |
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| LARVAE:
a stage in the life of some animals that occurs
between hatching and adulthood |
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| PISCIVOROUS:
an adjective used to describe an animal that feeds
on fishes |
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| ZOOPLANKTON:
tiny aquatic animals that drift with the water movement
in their habitat |
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