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Cichlid

For the homophonous moth genus, see Cyclidia.

Cichlid
Temporal range: Early Eocene - present
A mbuna
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Actinopterygii
Clade: Percomorpha
Clade: Ovalentaria
Order: Cichliformes
Family: Cichlidae
Bonaparte, 1835
Subfamilies and Tribes

Current taxonomy:

Alternate taxonomy:

For genera, see below.

Cichlids (/ˈsɪklɪdz/)[a] are a large, diverse, and widespread family of percomorph fish in the family Cichlidae, order Cichliformes. At least 1,760 species have been scientifically described, making it one of the largest vertebrate families, with only the Cyprinidae being more speciose.[3] New species are discovered annually, and many species remain undescribed. The actual number of species is therefore unknown, with estimates varying between 2,000 and 3,000.[4] They are native to the Neotropics, Africa (including Madagascar), the Middle East, and the Indian subcontinent, although some species have been introduced worldwide.

Many cichlids, particularly tilapia, are important food fishes, while others, such as the Cichla species, are valued game fish. The family also includes many popular freshwater aquarium fish kept by hobbyists, including the angelfish, oscars, and discus.[5][6] Cichlids have the largest number of endangered species among vertebrate families, most in the haplochromine group.[7] Cichlids are particularly well known for having evolved rapidly into many closely related but morphologically diverse species within large lakes, particularly Lakes Tanganyika, Victoria, Malawi, and Edward.[8][9] Their diversity in the African Great Lakes is important for the study of speciation in evolution.[10] Many cichlids introduced into waters outside of their natural range have become nuisances.[11]

All cichlids practice some form of parental care for their eggs and fry, usually in the form of guarding the eggs and fry or mouthbrooding.

  1. ^ Cite error: The named reference M14 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  2. ^ Říčan, Oldřich; Piálek, Lubomír; Zardoya, Rafael; Doadrio, Ignacio; Zrzavy, Jan (March 2013). "Biogeography of the Mesoamerican Cichlidae (Teleostei: Heroini): Colonization through the GAARlandia land bridge and early diversification". Journal of Biogeography. 40 (3): 579–593. Bibcode:2013JBiog..40..579R. doi:10.1111/jbi.12023. Archived from the original on 21 March 2024. Retrieved 27 March 2024.
  3. ^ "CAS - Eschmeyer's Catalog of Fishes - Genera/Species by Family/Subfamily". researcharchive.calacademy.org. Retrieved 12 March 2025.
  4. ^ Stiassny, M.; Teugels, G.G.; Hopkins, C.D. (2007). The Fresh and Brackish Water Fishes of Lower Guinea, West-Central Africa. Vol. 2. Musée Royal de l'Afrique Centrale. p. 269. ISBN 978-90-74752-21-3.
  5. ^ Cite error: The named reference Loiselle was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  6. ^ Kosswig, Curt (June 1963). "Ways of speciation in fishes". Copeia. 1963 (2): 238–244. doi:10.2307/1441338. JSTOR 1441338.
  7. ^ Reid, G.M. (December 1990). "Captive breeding for the conservation of cichlid fishes". Journal of Fish Biology. 37: 157–166. Bibcode:1990JFBio..37S.157R. doi:10.1111/j.1095-8649.1990.tb05031.x.
  8. ^ 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): 17. doi:10.1186/1471-2148-5-17. PMC 554777. PMID 15723698.
  9. ^ Snoeks, J. (2004). The Cichlid Diversity of Lake Malawi / Nyasa / Niassa: Identification, distribution, and taxonomy. Cichlid Press. ISBN 978-0-9668255-8-9.
  10. ^ Kornfield, Irv; Smith, Peter (November 2000). "African Cichlid Fishes: Model Systems for Evolutionary Biology". Annual Review of Ecology and Systematics. 31 (1): 163–196. Bibcode:2000AnRES..31..163K. doi:10.1146/annurev.ecolsys.31.1.163.
  11. ^ "Fact sheet for Oreochromis mossambicus (Peters, 1852)". Gulf States Marine Fisheries Commission. Archived from the original on 18 August 2007. Retrieved 20 October 2006.


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