Hypsophrys nicaraguensis

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Hypsophrys nicaraguensis
Hypsophrys nicaraguensis.jpg
Scientific classification OOjs UI icon edit-ltr.svg
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Actinopterygii
Order: Cichliformes
Family: Cichlidae
Tribe: Heroini
Genus: Hypsophrys
Species:
H. nicaraguensis
Binomial name
Hypsophrys nicaraguensis
(Günther, 1864)
Synonyms [1]
  • Heros nicaraguensisGünther, 1864
  • Cichlasoma nicaraguense(Günther, 1864)
  • Copora nicaraguensis(Günther, 1864)
  • Herichthys nicaraguensis(Günther, 1864)
  • Hypsophrys unimaculatus Agassiz, 1859
  • Heros balteatus T.N. Gill, 1877
  • Cichlasoma balteatum(T.N. Gill, 1877)
  • Cichlasoma spilotum Meek, 1912

Hypsophrys nicaraguensis, the moga, is a species of cichlid native to the Atlantic slope of Central America, from Nicaragua to Costa Rica. [1] The species is a popular aquarium fish and is traded under a variety of common names that include nickie, parrot cichlid, macaw cichlid, butterfly cichlid, Nicaraguan cichlid and nicaraguense. [1] In Costa Rica it is known as a vieja. [2]

Feeding

Hypsophrys nicaraguensis is able to protrude its jaw to 3.8% of its standard length limiting its diet to only 1% evasive prey. [3]

Classification

The species was formerly the only representative of its genus, and is part of family Cichlidae in subfamily Cichlasomatinae. [1] However, the Poor man's tropheus, formerly Neetroplus nematopus, has also been placed into the genus Hypsophrys, as Hypsophrys nematopus. [4]

Conservation

It occurs in the Maquenque National Wildlife Refuge. [2]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cichlid</span> Family of fishes

Cichlids 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, but molecular studies have contradicted this grouping. On the basis of fossil evidence, it first appeared in Tanzania during the Eocene epoch, about 46–45 million years ago; however, molecular clock estimates have placed the family's origin as far back as 67 million years ago, during the late Cretaceous period. 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. This family is large, diverse, and widely dispersed. At least 1,650 species have been scientifically described, 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.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tilapia</span> Common name for many species of fish

Tilapia is the common name for nearly a hundred species of cichlid fish from the coelotilapine, coptodonine, heterotilapine, oreochromine, pelmatolapiine, and tilapiine tribes, with the economically most important species placed in the Coptodonini and Oreochromini. Tilapia are mainly freshwater fish inhabiting shallow streams, ponds, rivers, and lakes, and less commonly found living in brackish water. Historically, they have been of major importance in artisanal fishing in Africa, and they are of increasing importance in aquaculture and aquaponics. Tilapia can become a problematic invasive species in new warm-water habitats such as Australia, whether deliberately or accidentally introduced, but generally not in temperate climates due to their inability to survive in cold water.

<i>Parachromis managuensis</i> Species of cichlid fish

Parachromis managuensis is a large species of cichlid native to freshwater habitats in Central America, where it is found from Honduras to Costa Rica. The binomial name refers to Lake Managua in Nicaragua, from which the holotype was obtained. It is a food fish and is also found in the aquarium trade where it is variously known as the jaguar cichlid, managuense cichlid, managua cichlid, guapote tigre, Aztec cichlid, spotted guapote and jaguar guapote. In Costa Rica, it is known as the guapote tigre.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Convict cichlid</span> Species of fish

The convict cichlid is a fish species from the family Cichlidae, native to Central America, also known as the zebra cichlid. Convict cichlids are popular aquarium fish and have also been the subject of numerous studies on fish behaviour.

<i>Mayaheros urophthalmus</i> A species of large cichlid, indigenous to Middle America, with a tail eye spot.

Mayaheros urophthalmus, also known as the Mayan cichlid or Mexican mojarra is a species of cichlid.

<i>Australoheros</i> Genus of fishes

Australoheros is a fish genus in the cichlid family. Most are restricted to rivers and streams in southeastern Brazil, Paraguay, Uruguay and northeastern Argentina, but at least one species is also found in lakes and swamps. This genus was erected after a taxonomic revision in 2006. These are relatively small cichlids that typically do not surpass 10–15 centimetres (4–6 in) in length, although A. facetus reaches about 20 cm (8 in).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Poor man's tropheus</span> Species of fish

The poor man's tropheus is a species of fish in the family Cichlidae. Until 2007 it was the only species in the genus Neetroplus, but at that time it was reclassified into the genus Hypsophrys. In 2016 it was restored to the genus Neetroplus based on genetic research by Říčan, et al.

<i>Archocentrus</i> Genus of fishes

Archocentrus is a genus of cichlid fish from Central America. It currently contains a single species, the flier cichlid, which is found in stagnant and slow-moving freshwater habitats such as lakes, ponds, ditches, swamps and rivers in Honduras, Nicaragua and Costa Rica. It is up to 11 cm (4.3 in) long and feeds on invertebrates and detritus.

<i>Amphilophus</i> Genus of fishes

Amphilophus is a genus of cichlid fishes from Central America, ranging from southern Mexico to Panama. The genus currently contains 23 species, including several that are well known from the aquarium trade. However, studies led by Oldřich Říčan in 2008 and 2016 suggested that several species within Amphilophus should be moved to the genus Astatheros. Species proposed to be moved to Astatheros in 2008 were A. alfari, A. altifrons, A. bussingi, A. diquis, A. longimanus, A. macracanthus, A. margaritifer, A. rhytisma, A. robertsoni and A. rostratus. Further genetic studies led Říčan to put A. macracanthus in Astatheros, but to put A. alfari, A. altifrons, A. bussingi, A. diquis, A. longimanus, A. rhytisma, A. robertsoni and A. rostratus within the genus Cribroheros. Říčan's study suggests that the Astatheros species are more closely related to the Jack Dempsey and rainbow cichlid than to the remaining Amphilophus species.

<i>Caquetaia</i> Genus of fishes

Caquetaia is a small genus of cichlid fishes from tropical South America. The genus currently contains three species. Caquetaia spp. are ambush predators that predominantly feed on invertebrates. Seasonal fluctuations in water level have been shown to contribute to Caquetaia spp. consuming a larger variety of invertebrates, especially when the water level is low during dry seasons. Caquetaia are known for their highly protrusible jaws, an adaptation hypothesized to improve their ability to capture prey by enhancing overall ram velocity.

<i>Hypsophrys</i> Genus of fishes

Hypsophrys is a small genus of cichlid fishes from Central America.

<i>Amphilophus citrinellus</i> Species of fish

Amphilophus citrinellus is a large cichlid fish endemic to the San Juan River and adjacent watersheds in Costa Rica and Nicaragua. In the aquarium trade A. citrinellus is often sold under the trade name of Midas cichlid. A. citrinellus are omnivorous and their diet consists of plant material, molluscs and smaller fish. The species is closely related to, but not to be mistaken for, Amphilophus labiatus, which shares the nickname red devil cichlid.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Rainbow cichlid</span> Species of fish

Herotilapia multispinosa also known as the rainbow cichlid is a Central American freshwater fish of the cichlid family. It is found on the Atlantic slope of Honduras, Nicaragua, and Costa Rica from Patuca River (Honduras) south to Matina River, and on the Pacific slope of Nicaragua and Costa Rica from Guasaule River south to Tempisque River. Specimens are also reported from the Choluteca River on the Pacific side 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.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Nicaraguan grackle</span> Species of bird

The Nicaraguan grackle is a species of passerine bird belonging to the genus Quiscalus, a genus of grackles in the New World blackbird family, Icteridae. It is found only in Nicaragua and northernmost Costa Rica.

<i>Parachromis dovii</i> Species of cichlid fish

Parachromis dovii, the wolf cichlid, rainbow bass, or guapote, is a species of cichlid native to Central America, where it occurs in lakes, rivers and streams in Honduras, Nicaragua and Costa Rica. It is one of the largest cichlids, reaching up to 14 kg (31 lb) in weight and 80 cm (2.6 ft) long. A highly predatory species, it mostly feeds on other fish. P. dovii is important to local commercial fisheries, is sought after as a gamefish, and is sometimes kept in aquariums.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Salvin's cichlid</span> Species of fish

The Salvin's cichlid, also known as the yellow-belly cichlid or tricolored cichlid, is a species of the family Cichlidae. It is found in rivers of the Atlantic slope of southern Mexico, Belize, and Guatemala.

<i>Amatitlania</i> Genus of fishes

Amatitlania is a genus of cichlid fishes native to freshwater habitats in Central America from El Salvador and Guatemala to Panama. They are fairly small cichlids, typically reaching up to 6.4–10 cm (2.5–4 in) in standard length depending on exact species, although captives may grow larger.

<i>Amatitlania septemfasciata</i> Species of fish

Amatitlania septemfasciata is a fish species in the cichlid family. It is found on the Atlantic slope of Costa Rica, between the San Juan River drainage and the Banano River. Several currently recognized cichlid species within the genus Amatitlania were formerly considered varieties of Amatitlania septumfasciata, including Amatitlania myrnae, the Topaz Cichlid, and Amatitlania cutteri.

Beltia is a genus of leaf beetles in the subfamily Eumolpinae. It is known from the Neotropical realm. It was first erected by Martin Jacoby in 1881 for a single species from Nicaragua. In 2018, it was redefined to include fourteen new species from Central America and northwestern South America, as well as four species transferred from Colaspoides.

Astyanax bransfordii, sometimes called the longjaw tetra, is a small carnivorous species of fish endemic to a handful of lakes and slow-moving canals in Central America. Its range includes Lake Nicaragua and Lake Managua, which are two of the largest freshwater bodies in Central America; because it occurs only in the relevant areas of Costa Rica and Nicaragua, the area it actually inhabits is somewhat restricted. Its diet largely consists of various invertebrates and smaller fish. This is in contrast to various other species of Astyanax, which are more often omnivorous.

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 Froese, Rainer; Pauly, Daniel (eds.) (2018). "Hypsophrys nicaraguensis" in FishBase . June 2018 version.
  2. 1 2 Mauricio Salas Varga (July 2008). Humedales de Ramsar (FIR) – Versión 2006-2008 (PDF) (Report) (in Spanish). Centro Científico Tropical. p. 20. Retrieved 30 August 2019.
  3. Hulsey, C. D.; Garcia De Leon, F. J. (2005). "Cichlid jaw mechanics: Linking morphology to feeding specialization". Functional Ecology. 19 (3): 487. Bibcode:2005FuEco..19..487H. doi: 10.1111/j.1365-2435.2005.00987.x .
  4. "Convict and Jack Dempsey placed in new genera". Archived from the original on 2007-12-28. Retrieved 2008-06-27.