Download African Chichlid Fact Sheet - The Maryland Zoo in Baltimore

African cichlid (Pseudotropheus sp)
Description
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Cichlids are a large, diverse fish family
o The number of species in the family is not well understood, but rough estimates
range from 200 to 2000 species in approximately 140 genera
Distinguished from other families by a single opening of the nostril and an interrupted
lateral line
Generally fairly small in size, but range from 1 inch (Tilapia snyderdae in Cameroon) to
about 3 feet (Boulengerochrompis microlepis in East Africa and Cichla temensis of South
America)
MZIB exhibits several species, all in the genus Pesudotropheus, which generally range
from about 2.5 to 6.5 inches in length
In the Wild
Habitat and Range
• Cichlids inhabit lowland, freshwater areas in the tropics and subtropics and range
throughout Africa, South and Central America, the Middle East, and one species found
in North America
• Most cichlid species are found in the great lakes of Africa (Lake Malawi, Lake Victoria,
and Lake Tanganyika)
• Pseudotropheus is endemic to Lake Malawi in Africa and prefers rocky areas rather than
open water
Diet
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Varies, cichlids exhibit a great diversity of feeding adaptations and exploit all available
sources of food including phytoplankton, zooplankton, soft bottom deposits, algae on
the surface of rocks, plants, mollusks, small aquatic invertebrates, fish, fish eggs
Adaptations
• Many have jaws specialized to the type of food that they eat, for example:
o Protrusion for catching other fish
o Sucking or scooping for feeding on detritus on the lake bottom
o Forceps-like for extracting prey from holes and crevices
o Powerful for crushing mollusks
• Other species have more generalized jaws that allow them to eat a variety of food types
Lifespan
• In the wild: Unknown
• In captivity: Varies, 5-12 years
Reproduction
• In cichlid species, males are brightly colored and often perform a courtship display
before mating
The Maryland Zoo in Baltimore
February 2014
African cichlid (Pseudotropheus sp)
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Studies in the African lakes show that no two species have the same breeding
coloration, which is thought to help with species recognition
In many Lake Malawi species, the male will build an elaborate spawning site on the lake
bottom, these have been compared to the bowers of bowerbirds and may aid in female
mate choice
All cichlid species show some form of parental care, the most advanced of this is mouth
brooding, where eggs and young are carried in the mouth for up to three weeks
Can have up to 1,000 offspring
Other Facts
• Cichlids are of great interest to evolutionary biologists because of the great diversity of
endemic, closely related species that are found in the African lakes
Threats and Conservation Status
• Because so many cichlid species are endemic (found in only one place), they are
particularly vulnerable to threats from introduced species
• In Lake Victoria, the introduction of the Nile perch has driven many of the cichlid species
to near extinction, which has huge effects on the lake ecosystem
• Eutrophication (an excess of nutrients in the water) is also a threat
• Many cichlid species are listed as vulnerable, endangered, or critically endangered
o 117 Lake Malawi species are listed as vulnerable, particularly those like
Pseudotropheus that have a restricted distribution
At The Zoo
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MZIB houses a group of about 500 cichlids of several different species
They are fed standard fish stick, but are voracious eaters and will eat the rodents and
fish that are fed to the crocodiles
What We Can Do
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Make environmentally responsible lifestyle decisions to help conserve habitat - conserve
energy and resources, reduce litter and pollution.
Support the conservation efforts of local organizations like The Maryland Zoo as well as
organizations working in the field to protect wildlife and conserve habitat
References and Additional Resources
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The American Museum of Natural History:
http://www.amnh.org/education/resources/rfl/web/essaybooks/biodiversity/cs_victori
a.html
The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species:
http://www.iucnredlist.org/initiatives/freshwater/eastafrica/geographicpatternsea
Paxton, J.R. and Eschmeyer, W.N. (1998). Encylopedia of Fishes, 2nd Edition. San
Francisco, CA: Fog City Press.
The Maryland Zoo in Baltimore
February 2014