Cichla orinocensis

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Cichla orinocensis
Pesca Esportiva na Amazônia 16.JPG
Peacock bass.jpg
Adult above, juvenile below
Scientific classification edit
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Actinopterygii
Order: Cichliformes
Family: Cichlidae
Genus: Cichla
Species:
C. orinocensis
Binomial name
Cichla orinocensis
Humboldt, 1821

Cichla orinocensis, sometimes known as the Orinoco peacock bass, is a very large species of cichlid. This peacock bass is native to the Rio Negro and Orinoco River basins in northern South America.[1] It mainly occurs in blackwater rivers.[2] Despite the name, it is not the only peacock bass in the Orinoco, as the river also is home to C. intermedia, , and C. temensis.[2] Where it overlaps with the last species, C. orinocensis prefers more slow-moving and shallow waters.[3] They are able to tolerate more turbid waters than other species of peacock bass.

It reaches up to about 62 cm (2 ft) in standard length.[1] Adults are easily recognized by the three large gold-edged dark spots on the side of their body (a fourth spot on the tail) and lack of dark markings on the operculum.[2][3]

A genetic study has indicated a clear divergence between the Orinoco and Rio Negro populations. If split, the Orinoco would retain the scientific name C. orinocensis.[4]

References[]

  1. ^ a b Froese, Rainer; Pauly, Daniel (eds.) (2017). "Cichla orinocensis" in FishBase. October 2017 version.
  2. ^ a b c Kullander, Sven; Efrem Ferreira (2006). "A review of the South American cichlid genus Cichla, with descriptions of nine new species (Teleostei: Cichlidae)". Ichthyological Explorations of Freshwaters. 17 (4).
  3. ^ a b "'Borboleto'—Cichla orinocensis". Acute Angling. Retrieved 17 October 2017.
  4. ^ Willis; Nunes; Montaña; Farias; and Lovejoy (2007). "Systematics, biogeography, and evolution of the Neotropical peacock basses Cichla (Perciformes: Cichlidae)". Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution. 44: 291–307. doi:10.1016/j.ympev.2006.12.014. PMID 17275345.CS1 maint: uses authors parameter (link)
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