Parachromis

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iParachromis
Parachromis managuense
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Actinopterygii
Order: Perciformes
Family: Cichlidae
Genus: Parachromis

Parachromis is a genus of freshwater fishes from the family Cichlidae. The genus contains 5 species and is limited in its distribution to Central America. Some species occur in Lake Nicaragua and Lake Managua. All species are large and predatory.

Parachromis friedrichsthalii has a unusual hunting mechanism. The species has been observed to lie immobile near the bottom, feining death. When smaller fish approach and attempt to pick at the dead fish, P. friedrichsthalii ambush the smaller fish. Similar behaviour has also been observed in some species of Lake Malawi cichlids, particularly from the genus Nimbochromis.[1]

[edit] Species

  • Parachromis dovii (Günther, 1864) Wolf cichlid
  • Parachromis friedrichsthalii (Heckel, 1840)
  • Parachromis loisellei (Bussing, 1989)
  • Parachromis managuensis (Günther, 1867) Jaguar cichlid
  • Parachromis motaguensis (Günther, 1867)

[edit] References

  1. ^ Tobler, M (2005). "Feigning death in the Central American cichlid Parachromis friedrichsthalii". Journal of Fish Biology 66 (March): 877-81. DOI:10.1111/j.0022-1112.2005.00648.x. Retrieved on 2006-12-01.
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