Cichla

Cichla
Juvenile Cichla orinocensis
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Actinopterygii
Order: Perciformes
Family: Cichlidae
Subfamily: Cichlinae
Genus: Cichla
Bloch and Schneider, 1801

Cichla is a genus of fifteen described species of fish from the family Cichlidae. Kullander & Ferreira (2006) described nine species in a recent paper [1] and suggest the genus may include 5-15 other species, yet to be described. The genus includes several species valued as game fish, collectively known as peacock bass, and is also of interest to cichlid keeping aquarists. Cichla species are amongst the largest cichlids, with one species, (C. temensis), growing to over 90 cm (3 feet).

Species

References