Cichlids/ˈsɪklɪdz/[a]
are fish from the family Cichlidae in the order Cichliformes. Traditionally Cichlids were classed in a suborder, the Labroidei, along with the wrasses (Labridae), in the order Perciformes,[3] but molecular studies have contradicted this grouping.[4] On the basis of fossil evidence, it first appeared in Tanzania during the Eocene epoch, about 46–45 million years ago;[1][5] however, molecular clock estimates have placed the family's origin as far back as 67 million years ago, during the late Cretaceous period.[2] The closest living relative of cichlids is probably the convict blenny, and both families are classified in the 5th edition of Fishes of the World as the two families in the Cichliformes, part of the subseries Ovalentaria.[6] This family is large, diverse, and widely dispersed. At least 1,650 species have been scientifically described,[7] making it one of the largest vertebrate families. New species are discovered annually, and many species remain undescribed. The actual number of species is therefore unknown, with estimates varying between 2,000 and 3,000.[8]
Many cichlids, particularly tilapia, are important food fishes, while others, such as the Cichla species, are valued game fish. The family also includes many popular freshwater aquarium fish kept by hobbyists, including the angelfish, oscars, and discus.[9][10] Cichlids have the largest number of endangered species among vertebrate families, most in the haplochromine group.[11] Cichlids are particularly well known for having evolved rapidly into many closely related but morphologically diverse species within large lakes, particularly Lakes Tanganyika, Victoria, Malawi, and Edward.[12][13] Their diversity in the African Great Lakes is important for the study of speciation in evolution.[14] Many cichlids introduced into waters outside of their natural range have become nuisances.[15]
All cichlids practice some form of parental care for their eggs and fry, usually in the form of guarding the eggs and fry or mouthbrooding.
^ abMurray, Alison M. (19 January 2001). "Eocene cichlid fishes from Tanzania, east Africa". Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology. 20 (4): 651–664. doi:10.1671/0272-4634(2000)020[0651:ECFFTE]2.0.CO;2. JSTOR 4524146. S2CID 86093448.
^ abŘíčan, Oldřich; Piálek, Lubomír; Zardoya, Rafael; Doadrio, Ignacio; Zrzavy, Jan (March 2013). "Biogeography of the Mesoamerican Cichlidae (Teleostei: Heroini): Colonization through the GAARlandia land bridge and early diversification". Journal of Biogeography. 40 (3): 579–593. Archived from the original on 21 March 2024. Retrieved 27 March 2024.
^Cite error: The named reference Stiassny was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
^Wainwright, Peter C.; et al. (2012). "The evolution of pharyngognathy: A phylogenetic and functional appraisal of the pharyngeal jaw key innovation in labroid fishes and beyond". Systematic Biology. 61 (6): 1001–1027. doi:10.1093/sysbio/sys060. PMID 22744773.
^Murray, A.M. (2001). "The oldest fossil cichlids (Teleostei: Perciformes): Indication of a 45 million year-old species flock". Proceedings: Biological Sciences. 268 (1468): 679–684. doi:10.1098/rspb.2000.1570. JSTOR 3067613. PMC 1088656. PMID 11321055.
^Nelson, J.S.; Grande, T.C.; Wilson, M.V.H. (2016). Fishes of the World (5th ed.). Wiley. p. 752. ISBN 978-1-118-34233-6. Archived from the original on 8 April 2019. Retrieved 5 November 2018.
^Froese, Rainer; Pauly, Daniel, eds. (February 2012). "List of nominal species of Cichlidae". FishBase.org.
^Stiassny, M.; Teugels, G.G.; Hopkins, C.D. (2007). The Fresh and Brackish Water Fishes of Lower Guinea, West-Central Africa. Vol. 2. Musée Royal de l'Afrique Centrale. p. 269. ISBN 978-90-74752-21-3.
^Cite error: The named reference Loiselle was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
^Kosswig, Curt (June 1963). "Ways of speciation in fishes". Copeia. 1963 (2): 238–244. doi:10.2307/1441338. JSTOR 1441338.
^Reid, G.M. (December 1990). "Captive breeding for the conservation of cichlid fishes". Journal of Fish Biology. 37: 157–166. Bibcode:1990JFBio..37S.157R. doi:10.1111/j.1095-8649.1990.tb05031.x.
^Salzburger, W.; Mack, T.; Verheyen, E.; Meyer, A. (2005). "Out of Tanganyika: Genesis, explosive speciation, key-innovations and phylogeography of the haplochromine cichlid fishes". BMC Evolutionary Biology. 5 (17): 17. doi:10.1186/1471-2148-5-17. PMC 554777. PMID 15723698.
^Snoeks, J. (2004). The Cichlid Diversity of Lake Malawi / Nyasa / Niassa: Identification, distribution, and taxonomy. Cichlid Press. ISBN 978-0-9668255-8-9.
^Kornfield, Irv; Smith, Peter (November 2000). "African Cichlid Fishes: Model Systems for Evolutionary Biology". Annual Review of Ecology and Systematics. 31: 163–196. doi:10.1146/annurev.ecolsys.31.1.163.
^"Fact sheet for Oreochromis mossambicus(Peters, 1852)". Gulf States Marine Fisheries Commission. Archived from the original on 18 August 2007. Retrieved 20 October 2006.
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