Crenicichla

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Crenicichla
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Chordata Class: Actinopterygii Order: Perciformes Family: Cichlidae Genus: Crenicichla

Crenicichla is a genus of cichlids. It includes 75 species, and is the most speciose genus of cichlids.^[1] Crenicichla species are found over most of tropical and subtropical cis-Andean South America.^[1]

[edit] Origin

The Crenicichla plant is native to South America and lives in freshwater rivers, streams, pools and lakes in the Amazon region. Some of the species are also found north of the Amazon river in Guyana, Venezuela, Colombia, and south of the Amazon river in coastal regions as far as central Argentina and in all river systems of Uruguay. A majority of the species lives in warm waters but there are several notable exceptions, e.g. those species living in cold parts of Argentina and Uruguay.

[edit] Dimensions

A dwarf Crenicichla is no larger than 3 or 4 inches while the biggest Crenicichla can be more than 24 inches long. A medium sized Crenicichla usually stay between 6 and 10 inches. They all show very similar behaviour however, regardless of their size. Crenicichla cichlids are predatory and feed on fish or insects. Like many other predatory fishes, a Crenicichla cichlid has a wide mouth and elongated body. They usually place themselves where they can stay undetected by the prey, like close to a sunken tree stem or behind a rock.

[edit] References

1. ^ ^{a b} Kullander, Sven O.; Lucena, Carlos A. (2006). "A review of the species of Crenicichla (Teleostei: Cichlidae) from the Atlantic coastal rivers of southeastern Brazil from Bahia to Rio Grande do Sul States, with descriptions of three new species" (PDF). Neotrop. Ichthyol. 4 (2): 127-146. doi:10.1590/S1679-62252006000200001.