Firemouth cichlid

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

iFiremouth cichlid
Conservation status
Secure
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Chordata Class: Actinopterygii Order: Perciformes Family: Cichlidae Genus: Thorichthys Species: T. meeki
Binomial name
Thorichthys meeki (Brind, 1918)

Firemouth cichlids (Thorichthys meeki) are native to Central America. They occur in rivers of the Yucatán peninsula, Mexico, south through Belize and into northern Guatemala. Their natural habitat is typically shallow, slow-moving, often turbid, water with a pH of 7.0 - 8.5. As fish with a tropical distribution, firemouth cichlids live in warm water with a temperature range of 23–30 °C (75–86 °F). The common name, firemouth, is derived from the bright orange-red colouration on the underside of the jaw. Males in particular flare out their gills, exposing their red throats, in a threat display designed to ward off male rivals from their territory. Like most cichlids, brood care is highly developed. Firemouth cichlids form monogamous pairs and spawn on flattened surfaces of rocks, leaves or submerged wood. Breeding males are primarily responsible for territorial defence, while females is more intensively involved in raising the fry, though both parents lead the fry in search of food. Firemouth cichlids are omnivorous and opportunistic in their feeding strategies. Sexual dimorphism is present, though limited in this species. Males are generally larger, (to 15 cm), than females, have brighter and more red colouration around the throat, and have more pointed dorsal and anal fins.

[edit] Synonyms

Cichlasoma meeki Cichlasoma hyorhynchum

[edit] References

• Thorichthys meeki (TSN 169787). Integrated Taxonomic Information System. Accessed on June 22, 2005.
• "Thorichthys meeki". FishBase. Ed. Ranier Froese and Daniel Pauly. May 2005 version. N.p.: FishBase, 2005.
• Staeck, W., and H. Linke. (1995) American Cichlids II: Large Cichlids (revised edition in English). Tetra Second Nature, Blacksburg, VA-216.