Firemouth cichlid
| Firemouth cichlid | |
|---|---|
| |
Scientific classification 
| |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Actinopterygii |
| Order: | Cichliformes |
| Family: | Cichlidae |
| Subfamily: | Cichlinae |
| Tribe: | Heroini |
| Genus: | Thorichthys |
| Species: | T. meeki
|
| Binomial name | |
| Thorichthys meeki Brind, 1918
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| Synonyms | |
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The firemouth cichlid (Thorichthys meeki) is a species of cichlid fish native to Central America. They occur in rivers of the Yucatán Peninsula, Mexico, south through Belize and into northern Guatemala.
Their natural habitat is typically shallow, slow-moving, often
specific epithet meeki honors American ichthyologist Seth Eugene Meek
. Males in particular flare out their gills, exposing their red throats, in a threat display designed to ward off male rivals from their territory.
Like most cichlids,
monogamous pairs and spawn on flattened surfaces of rocks, leaves or submerged wood. Breeding males are primarily responsible for territorial defense, while females are more intensively involved in raising the fry, though both parents lead the fry in search of food. Firemouth cichlids are omnivorous and opportunistic in their feeding strategies. Their ability to protrude their jaw 6% standard length limits their diet to about 6% evasive prey.[2]
Sexual dimorphism is present, though limited in this species. Males are generally larger than females (up to 15 cm (5.9 in)), with brighter and more red colouration around the throat. They also have more pointed dorsal and anal fins. Firemouths are suitable for community aquaria, though they may become extremely aggressive to other members of its species and other community fish during spawning.
See also
References
- "Thorichthys meeki". Integrated Taxonomic Information System. Retrieved June 22, 2005.
- Firemouth cichlid on FishBase
- Staeck, W.; H. Linke (1995). American Cichlids II: Large Cichlids (revised edition in English). Blacksburg, VA: Tetra Second Nature. p. 216.
- Andrews, Chris (1997). A Fishkeeper's Guide to Fish Breeding. Tetra Press. pp. 50–52. ISBN 1-56465-126-6.