Classification / Names
Common names | Synonyms | Catalog of Fishes(genus, species) | ITIS | CoL | WoRMS | Cloffa
Teleostei (teleosts) >
Cichliformes (Cichlids, convict blennies) >
Cichlidae (Cichlids) > Cichlasomatinae
Etymology: More on author: Gill.
Environment: milieu / climate zone / depth range / distribution range
Ecology
Freshwater; benthopelagic; pH range: 6.5 - 8.0; dH range: ? - 25. Tropical; 18°C - 23°C (Ref. 1672); 11°N - 5°N, 73°W - 60°W
Central and South America: Trinidad and Venezuela.
Size / Weight / Age
Maturity: Lm ? range ? - ? cm
Max length : 16.0 cm TL male/unsexed; (Ref. 36377)
Anal spines: 3. Aequidens is very similar to Geophagus but is differentiated by the number of spines on the anal fin and the lacks of a lobule on the first branchial arch found in Geophagus; live specimens olive green, with eight obscure transverse bands on the body; numerous bright bluish-green lines on the cheek; males are more colorful and grow bigger than females; males blue in color during the reproductive season (Ref. 26543).
Inhabits turbid standing waters as well as clear free flowing streams (Ref. 11225). Feeds on worms, crustaceans and insects (Ref. 7020). Reproduces in captivity (Ref. 26543). Both parents guard the eggs and larvae (Ref. 7020). Has been used to control mosquito larvae (Ref. 40602). Aquarium keeping: in pairs; minimum aquarium size 100 cm (Ref. 51539).
Life cycle and mating behavior
Maturities | Reproduction | Spawnings | Egg(s) | Fecundities | Larvae
In captivity, both male and female clean a rock which will be the spawning area. Eggs are laid on the rock by the female and fertilized by the male. Both male and female guard the eggs, which hatch in 2 to 5 days, and continue to look after the fry for some weeks (Ref. 7020). In cases of danger, the male protects its young by placing them inside its mouth (Ref. 26543).
Kullander, S.O., 2003. Cichlidae (Cichlids). p. 605-654. In R.E. Reis, S.O. Kullander and C.J. Ferraris, Jr. (eds.) Checklist of the Freshwater Fishes of South and Central America. Porto Alegre: EDIPUCRS, Brasil. (Ref. 36377)
IUCN Red List Status (Ref. 130435)
Threat to humans
Harmless
Human uses
Fisheries: commercial; aquarium: highly commercial
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Estimates based on models
Phylogenetic diversity index (Ref.
82804): PD
50 = 0.5039 [Uniqueness, from 0.5 = low to 2.0 = high].
Bayesian length-weight: a=0.02951 (0.01605 - 0.05428), b=3.11 (2.95 - 3.27), in cm total length, based on LWR estimates for this species & (Sub)family-body (Ref.
93245).
Trophic level (Ref.
69278): 3.3 ±0.40 se; based on food items.
Resilience (Ref.
120179): High, minimum population doubling time less than 15 months (tm<1).
Fishing Vulnerability (Ref.
59153): Low vulnerability (10 of 100).
