Cichla temensis
Cichla temensis | |
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Adult above, juvenile below | |
Scientific classification ![]() | |
Kingdom: | Animalia |
Phylum: | Chordata |
Class: | Actinopterygii |
Order: | Cichliformes |
Family: | Cichlidae |
Genus: | Cichla |
Species: | C. temensis
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Binomial name | |
Cichla temensis Humboldt, 1821
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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[]
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/9/95/Cichla_Temensis_from_Cinaruco1.jpg/200px-Cichla_Temensis_from_Cinaruco1.jpg)
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[]
- ^ Reis, P. (2015), Aspects of life history of Cichla temensis (Perciformes: Cichlidae) and its relationship to the Amazon basin's flood pulse, Rutgers University
- ^ "The 10 biggest cichlids". Practical Fishkeeping. 13 June 2016. Retrieved 17 October 2017.
- ^ Froese, Rainer and Pauly, Daniel, eds. (2017). "Cichla temensis" in FishBase. October 2017 version.
- ^ 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).
- ^ Nico, L. (2011). Cichla temensis. USGS Nonindigenous Aquatic Species Database, Gainesville, FL
- ^ "Peacock Bass (introduced)". Ecology Asia. Retrieved 17 October 2017.
- ^ 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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Wikimedia Commons has media related to Cichla temensis. |
- Cichla
- Cichlid fish of South America
- Fish described in 1821
- Taxa named by Alexander von Humboldt