Texas cichlid | |
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Scientific classification | |
Domain: | Eukaryota |
Kingdom: | Animalia |
Phylum: | Chordata |
Class: | Actinopterygii |
Order: | Cichliformes |
Family: | Cichlidae |
Genus: | Herichthys |
Species: | H. cyanoguttatus |
Binomial name | |
Herichthys cyanoguttatus (S. F. Baird & Girard, 1854) | |
Synonyms | |
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The Texas cichlid (Herichthys cyanoguttatus), also known as the Rio Grande cichlid, is a freshwater fish of the cichlid family, and the only cichlid species that is native to the United States. It is found in the lower Rio Grande drainage in Texas near Brownsville and northeastern Mexico.
Herichthys cyanoguttatus can grow to be over 13 in (33 cm) and are differentiated by their distinctive characteristics and specific habitat needs. This cichlid is recognized by its cream and turquoise spots. [3] Adult males also develop a nuchal hump on their head. [3] This cichlid also prefers the water temperature to be between 68 and 82 °F (20–28 °C) and are negatively affected by rapid changes in temperature. [4]
The Texas cichlid was originally part of the genus Cichlasoma until that group was restricted to South American cichlids. [5] The species has been transferred to the genus Herichthys , which is described as cichlids that
The cichlid is known for its complex reproductive behavior with a long parental care period. The mating habits of the cichlid are tied to the monogamous nature of the fish. The competitive pairs always consist of a larger male and a smaller female. [6] These pairs travel long distances between the months of March and August to mate and aggressively defend their mating sites against other pairs of cichlids. [5] [7]
Prior to spawning, a site, generally consisting of rocks in water less than 30 cm deep, is chosen by both parents and cleaned by nipping the surface. No individual cichlid appears to maintain territory prior to mating. After a territory is selected and cleaned, the eggs are deposited. [6]
Females release between one and five eggs at a time. [8] Males then go to the eggs and excrete a seminal fluid onto the egg. This process is repeated until around 2,000 eggs have been distributed. [8] During the egg stage, both parents alternate in the parental tasks, though males spend more time patrolling territory and females spend more time actively attending to the offspring by fanning the eggs. At certain intervals, the female cichlid stops fanning the eggs and begins nipping at them. The eggs then hatch into wrigglers with yolk sacks which are absorbed after one week and the wrigglers become free-swimming fry. [6]
The fry form a small group that slowly moves around the territory with the parents stationed in the middle. Both parents defend this small territory against intruders. At all stages, the female violently chases the intruders more often and faster than the male parent. It is very rare that both cichlid parents either leave or remain with their young. Typically, the roles are exchanged, but this exchange becomes less frequent during the fry stage as both parents tend to stay with the young. [6]
The cichlid has an omnivorous diet that consists of vegetable matter or detritus, often feasting on plants, insects, and smaller fish as well as fish eggs. [5] [7] [9] The cichlid, in certain situations, can also be described as an "opportunistic carnivore", feeding on small vertebrates and invertebrates, including small frogs and water snakes. The cichlid is a "deliberate hunter" and it depends on the camouflage of its skin in order to sneak up on its prey. [10]
The Texas cichlid has several qualities that contribute to its success as an invasive species. The cichlid is not greatly affected by high-energy wave events, nor pollution from outfall canals. These cichlids also have very high tolerance for salt water and high salinities that would normally act as barriers to the entrance of invasive fish. [9]
The cichlid can disrupt the food web with their flexible diet, which can shift depending on what fish are around it. They are aggressive whether they are holding territory or not. This aggression can inhibit growth and reproduction of native species and the effects can be far-reaching. The cichlid also drives other fish into open areas, which lowers the population count of the other species through incidental predation. The cichlid is a pioneer species that paves the way for other fish to invade, which has occurred in Six Mile Creek, Florida, and in the upper San Antonio River, Texas. [5] The actual effects of the cichlid on the environment are, at this point, unknown. [11]
In Florida, the success of the fish has been limited to artificial canals. [5] It is unknown how the fish first got into Florida, but it is believed that the fish was introduced in Florida from Texas stocks in 1941 by a private individual. Other theories are that fish farms were flooded and the result was that this fish escaped. [11]
In Louisiana, the fish has slowly taken over the waters of New Orleans. The fish has a high salinity tolerance (up to 8 ppt), but it is likely that this is caused by the interbreeding of this fish and the related lowland cichlid ( Herichthys carpintis), which makes it an ideal invader for the brackish conditions of southern Louisiana. [5] It is believed that this fish has entered into the New Orleans area through multiple aquarium releases in central Jefferson Parish in 1989. Since the fish has a short mating cycle, it did not take long for the fish to make its way through the canal system and into Lake Pontchartrain. [12] Pump stations and Lake Pontchartrain aided to the spreading of the fish into other canals.
Herichthys cyanoguttatus has been present in natural and degraded habitats of the Greater New Orleans Metropolitan Area for at least 20 years. The first time it was ever recorded that the cichlid had been caught in New Orleans was on 17 June 1996. In May 1998, 23 fish were caught in a Jefferson Parish canal. Between 2006 and 2007, the number of cichlids increased significantly in sites such as Pontchartrain Lagoon, Bayou Metairie, and Marconi Lagoon. The effect of the invasive fish in the area is as of now, uncertain, but many studies have been done to figure out what exactly is going on. [5]
Some of these studies have shown that this cichlid has spread into Bayou St. John and City Park. The cichlid acts aggressively toward native largemouth bass, western mosquitofish, sailfin mollies, and blue crabs. This aggressiveness can occur in the form of tail beating and mouth wrestling. [13] The fish also appears to cause reproductive failure of sheepshead minnows.
The Texas cichlid was largely unaffected by abiotic events like Hurricanes Katrina and Rita because of its high tolerance for salt-water intake. [5] In fact, these hurricanes actually helped the fish to take over the bayous of New Orleans. When the park flooded during Katrina, it helped the cichlid to spread. [14]
In Bayou St. John, the cichlid threatens to overwhelm native species and ruin the efforts of the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries to restore the historical fishery of Bayou St. John. Because the fish competes with native fish for shallow mating sites, it reduces the chances of the diverse fishery ever being fully recovered. [15]
The fish has already eliminated several smaller fish in this bayou, including killifish and sheepshead minnows. In fact, if the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries did not routinely re-stock several midsized species, it is likely that the cichlid would have eliminated these fish too. [7] Because of this, there is even a competition at the City Park Big Bass Fishing Rodeo & Fishtival [16] to catch the most cichlids, sunfish and crappie. According to a fisherman Joe Adams, who participates in the competition,
Despite these efforts, there is practically no chance of eradicating this fish from New Orleans' waters, mainly because of its quick mating cycle. [7]
Texas cichlids have been deliberately and accidentally introduced into the wild throughout the subtropical southern United States from Texas to Florida (where water temperatures rarely dip below 48 °F (9 °C), where they have flourished, and are often caught incidentally when fishing for sunfish and other panfish.
Most anglers outside South and Central Texas do not recognize the fish and they are released, however these fish are considered invasives and should be destroyed if caught outside their natural range. They are regularly targeted in both South Texas, where they are known as "Rio Grande cichlid" and Northern Mexico, where they are known as "Mojarra de Norte". Lake Guerrero, Tamaulipas, is recognized for its excellent largemouth bass fishing (another often-invasive species); there, the locals consider the Texas cichlid to be the best eating fish in the lake.
Texas cichlids taste similar to commercially raised tilapia, an African cichlid species to which they are distantly related.
The fish is caught on light tackle with small hooks (#4 to #8) like that used for other panfish, with live crickets making excellent bait, however they will strike a wide variety of baits. They fight similarly to bluegill sunfish, making tight circles and then darting off in a broadsided run. Average size of adult fish in the wild is 5–6 inches, and 1 pounds, with 2 pounds not being uncommon. [17]
The Texas cichlid is commonly found in the aquarium trade and became relatively popular in the 1980s with cichlid enthusiasts because of its iridescent blue and green markings. [7]
The "green Texas cichlid" commonly seen in pet stores is another species, Herichthys carpintis, whose range does not actually extend as far as Texas. The "red Texas cichlid" is not a genuine Texas cichlid but rather a common cross-genus hybrid of Herichthys and Amphilophus parents. The common names come from the physical similarity to Herichthys cyanoguttatus. [18]
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 Argentina during the Early Eocene epoch, about 48.6 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.
The Jack Dempsey is a species of cichlid fish that is native to freshwater habitats from southern Mexico to Honduras, but also introduced elsewhere. Its common name refers to its aggressive nature and strong facial features, likened to that of the famous 1920s boxer Jack Dempsey.
The rock bass, also known as the rock perch, goggle-eye, red eye, and black perch, is a freshwater fish native to east-central North America. This red-eyed fish is a species of freshwater fish in the sunfish family (Centrarchidae) of order Perciformes and can be distinguished from other similar species by the six spines in the anal fin.
The redbreast sunfish is a species of freshwater fish in the sunfish family of the order Perciformes. The type species of its genus, it is native to the river systems of eastern Canada and the United States. The redbreast sunfish reaches a maximum recorded length of about 30 centimetres (12 in).
The green sunfish is a species of aggressive freshwater fish in the sunfish family (Centrarchidae) of order Perciformes. A panfish popular with anglers, the green sunfish is also kept as an aquarium fish by hobbyists, they need a 55-75 gallon tank and can be fed minnows, mealworms, or nightcrawlers. They are usually caught by accident, while fishing for other game fish. Green sunfish can be caught with live bait, such as nightcrawlers, waxworms, mealworms, and blood worms. Grocery store baits, such as pieces of hot dog or corn kernels, can even catch fish. Green sunfish are aggressive and will hit small lures. They can be caught with fly fishing tackle. They usually get 10 inches long, but in some cases they can get 12 inches long.
Peacock bass or Brazilian tucunaré are large freshwater cichlids of the genus Cichla. These are diurnal predatory fishes native to the Amazon and Orinoco basins, as well as rivers of the Guianas, in tropical South America. They are sometimes referred to in English by their Brazilian name tucunaré or their Spanish name pavon. Despite the common name and their superficial similarity, they are not closely related to other fish known as bass, such as the North American largemouth bass.
The redear sunfish, also known as the shellcracker, Georgia bream, cherry gill, chinquapin, improved bream, and sun perch, is a freshwater fish in the family Centrarchidae and is native to the southeastern United States. Due to its popularity as a sport fish, it has been widely introduced across North America.
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.
Mayaheros urophthalmus, also known as the Mayan cichlid or Mexican mojarra is a species of cichlid.
Herichthys is a genus of cichlid fishes native to North and Central America. Most are endemic to Mexico, but H. cyanoguttatus is also found in southern Texas, and has been introduced to central Texas and Florida.
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.
The three spot cichlid, also known as the trimac or red-eyed cichlid, is a species of cichlid from Mexico and Central America, from the subfamily Cichlasomatinae. It is rarely found as an aquarium fish. Although still included as a highly aberrant member of Cichlasoma by FishBase, other authorities such as Catalog of Fishes have moved it to the genus Amphilophus.
Herichthys carpintis, the lowland cichlid, pearlscale cichlid, is a species of cichlid.
The black acara is an omnivorous, freshwater, tropical fish. The species originates from South America, specifically in the Caroni River in the Orinoco Basin of Venezuela, Essequibo River in Guyana, and the Branco River drainage of the Amazon Basin. However, the black acara species has been accidentally introduced to numerous other areas within Florida's southern peninsula.
The spotted sunfish, also known as a stumpknocker, is a member of the freshwater sunfish family Centrarchidae and order Perciformes. The redspotted sunfish, redear sunfish and pumpkinseed sunfish are its closest relatives. Lepomis punctatus is olive-green to brown in color with black to reddish spots at the base of each scale that form rows of dots on the side. The scientific name punctatus refers to this spotted pattern. It was first described in 1831 by Valenciennes.
The redspotted sunfish, also known as a stumpknocker, is a species of freshwater ray-finned fish, a sunfish from the family Centrarchidae which is native to the United States. The redspotted sunfish was previously considered to be a western subspecies of spotted sunfish but was distinguished as a separate species by Warren in 1992.
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Australoheros facetus, formerly Cichlasoma facetum, the chameleon cichlid or chanchito, is a species of cichlid from the subfamily Cichlasomatinae which is native to northern Argentina, Paraguay, Uruguay and southern Brazil.
The saddle cichlid is a species of cichlid from the tribe Cichlasomatini, part of the subfamily Cichlasomatinae from South America. It is the type species of the genus Aequidens. It is reasonably common in the aquarium trade.