Cichla temensis

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Cichla temensis
Cichla temensis.jpg
Cichlidae Cichla temensis (5807042158).jpg
Adult above, juvenile below
Scientific classification edit
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Actinopterygii
Order: Cichliformes
Family: Cichlidae
Genus: Cichla
Species:
C. temensis
Binomial name
Cichla temensis
Humboldt, 1821

Cichla temensis, the speckled pavon, speckled peacock bass, painted pavon, or three-barred peacock bass, is a very large South American cichlid, and a prized food and game fish. Reaching up to 1 m (3.3 ft) in length and 13 kg (29 lb) in weight, it is the largest cichlid of the Americas, and perhaps the largest extant cichlid in the world,[1] with only Tanganyika's giant cichlid, Boulengerochromis microlepis, reaching similar proportions.[2]

Range[]

C. temensis is native to the Orinoco and Rio Negro basins, as well as several smaller rivers in the central Amazon (Uatumã, Preto da Eva, , and Tefé), in Brazil, Venezuela and Guyana.[3][4] In its native range, it is essentially restricted to blackwater rivers and their tributaries.[4]

Introduction attempts have been made outside its native range, but it has not managed to become established in Florida or Texas.[5] In contrast, it has flourished in tropical Singapore.[6]

Appearance[]

Speckled nonbreeding pattern (above) and three-barred full breeding pattern (below)

C. temensis resembles other peacock bass species, but is generally more elongated and slender in shape.[4] Adults are highly variable in colour pattern, which has historically caused some problems, with some speculating that the variants were separate species or males/females.[7] Only in 2012 was it firmly established that dark individuals with a dense light-speckled pattern are the nonbreeders, while breeding adults are more golden-olive and lack the pale speckles, but have three broad, dark bars on their bodies.[7] During the breeding season, some males also develop a bulbous forehead. Between the two extremes are several intermediate patterns.[7] No other peacock bass species is known to have such extreme variations among the adults.[7]

References[]

  1. ^ Reis, P. (2015), Aspects of life history of Cichla temensis (Perciformes: Cichlidae) and its relationship to the Amazon basin's flood pulse, Rutgers University
  2. ^ "The 10 biggest cichlids". Practical Fishkeeping. 13 June 2016. Retrieved 17 October 2017.
  3. ^ Froese, Rainer and Pauly, Daniel, eds. (2017). "Cichla temensis" in FishBase. October 2017 version.
  4. ^ 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).
  5. ^ Nico, L. (2011). Cichla temensis. USGS Nonindigenous Aquatic Species Database, Gainesville, FL
  6. ^ "Peacock Bass (introduced)". Ecology Asia. Retrieved 17 October 2017.
  7. ^ a b c d Reiss, P.; K.W. Able; M.S. Nunes; and T. Hrbek (2012). "Color pattern variation in Cichla temensis (Perciformes: Cichlidae): resolution based on morphological, molecular, and reproductive data". Neotrop. Ichthyol. 10 (1): 59–70. doi:10.1590/S1679-62252012000100006.CS1 maint: uses authors parameter (link)
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