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African cichlid (Pseudotropheus sp) Description • • • • 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 • 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) • • • • 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 • • 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 • • 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 • • • 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