Rainbow cichlid
| Rainbow cichlid | |
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Not evaluated (IUCN 3.1)
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| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Actinopterygii |
| Order: | Perciformes |
| Family: | Cichlidae |
| Subfamily: | Cichlinae |
| Genus: |
Herotilapia Pellegrin, 1904 |
| Species: | H. multispinosa |
| Binomial name | |
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Herotilapia multispinosa (Günther 1867) |
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| Synonyms | |
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Archocentrus multispinosus Günther, 1867 |
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Archocentrus multispinosus Günther, 1867
Herotilapia multispinosa also known as the rainbow cichlid is a tropical freshwater Central American fish of the cichlid family. It is found in Atlantic slope of Honduras, Nicaragua, and Costa Rica from Patuca River (Honduras) south to Matina River (Costa Rica), and the Pacific slope of Nicaragua and Costa Rica from Guasaule River south to Tempisque River. Specimens are also reported from the Choluteca River in the Pacific of Honduras. This species is found in lakes and swamps with muddy bottoms, where it uses its specialized teeth and only 3.5% jaw protrusion to feed mostly on algae. It is commercially important as an aquarium fish. The rainbow cichlid prefers a pH range of 7.0–8.0, water hardness of 9-20 dGH and a temperature range of 21–36 °C.
The rainbow cichlid was first described in 1867 by Albert Günther and was then placed in the genus Heros, a synonym of Cichlasoma. In 1903, it was removed from the Cichlasoma and placed in its own new genus Herotilapia, solely on the basis of its unique tricuspid teeth, an adaptation to eat filamentous algae. It was then called Herotilapia multispinosa.
The rainbow cichlid can reach 12–15 cm in length, but most adults are around 7–8 cm. The fish is generally yellow, with hints of reds and browns. A line of black central spots runs from the eye to the base of the tail. These spots can extend vertically to form faint bars. The female is usually more drab and slightly shorter than the male.
This cichlid is native to both the Atlantic and Pacific slopes of Central America, ranging from Costa Rica to Honduras and Nicaragua. It is most commonly found in turbid and shallow waters such as the weedy margins of lakes and streams, or small ponds that are periodically flooded by nearby rivers. An introduced population has also established itself in a hot spring at Hévíz, Hungary.
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Wikipedia