Geophagus

Geophagus surinamensis

Geophagus is a genus of cichlid from the northern and central South America. The fish are mainly found in flowing waters. The name is from the Greek " geos " ( = earth) and " phagein " ( = eat ) together, ie for eartheater and refers to the type of food intake of fish, which usually sand or mud from the ground, the edible filter out components with the help of gills Reuse and cast out the inedible parts through the gill slits again.

Features

Geophagus species are small to medium sized cichlids and 8 to a maximum of 27 inches long. The body is moderately elongated, flattened high backs and sides of the head more or less acuminate with a steep forehead line. The caudal peduncle is low, strong scaly tail fin. A tail spot is missing. The body side show in the different species a more or less pronounced lateral spot. Males are at the age usually somewhat larger than females and develop significantly prolonged pelvic fins.

Reproduction

Geophagus species show a variety of reproductive methods. Most species are mouth brooders, some are ovophile mouthbrooders, ie they only take the eggs into their mouths, others who larvophilen mouthbrooders also take the fish larvae in the mouth. Geophagus argyrostictus and a few others, however, are open breeders.

System

The genus Geophagus was described in 1840 by the Austrian zoologist and ichthyologist Johann Jakob Heckel. A revision of the genus by the Swedish ichthyologist Sven O. Kullander part of the originally assigned Geophagus species of the genus was spun, it is partly in the genus Satanoperca, partly but not assigned to a new genus. In these types, e.g., the Brasil - pearl perch and other ostbrasilianischen and westandinen cichlid is the generic name " Geophagus" used in quotes on. Sister species of Geophagus is Gymnogeophagus. Along with this genus Geophagus forms the Geophagina subtribes within the tribe Geophagini ..

Species

The FishBase database currently lists 25 species. There are also numerous previously undescribed species.

  • Geophagus abalios López- Fernández & Taphorn, 2004.
  • Acuticeps Geophagus Heckel, 1840.
  • Altifrons Geophagus Heckel, 1840.
  • Geophagus argyrostictus Kullander, 1991.
  • Geophagus dicrozoster López- Fernández & Taphorn, 2004.
  • Geophagus god waldi Schindler & Staeck, 2006.
  • Geophagus grammepareius Kullander & Taphorn, 1992.
  • Geophagus iporangensis Haseman, 1911.
  • Jurupari Geophagus Heckel, 1840.
  • Megasema Geophagus Heckel, 1840.
  • Geophagus neambi Lucinda, Lucena & Assis, 2010.
  • Geophagus parnaibae Staeck & Schindler, 2006.
  • Geophagus proximus ( Castelnau, 1855).
  • Geophagus sveni Lucinda, Lucena & Assis, 2010.
  • Geophagus taeniopareius Kullander & Royero, 1992.
  • Geophagus winemilleri López- Fernández & Taphorn, 2004.

Geophagus surinamensis species group

  • Geophagus Kullander & Nijssen Brokopondo, 1989.
  • Geophagus Kullander & Nijssen brachybranchus, 1989.
  • Geophagus camopiensis Pellegrin, 1903.
  • Geophagus crocatus Hauser & López- Fernández, 2013.
  • Geophagus harreri Gosse, 1976.
  • Geophagus surinamensis ( Bloch, 1791).

" Geophagus" brasiliensis species group

  • " Geophagus" brasiliensis
  • " Geophagus" itapicuruensis Haseman, 1911.
  • " Geophagus" minutus
  • " Geophagus" obscurus ( Castelnau, 1855).

" Geophagus" crassilabris species group

  • " Geophagus" crassilabris Steindachner, 1876.
  • " Geophagus" pellegrini Regan, 1912.
  • " Geophagus" steindachneri Eigenmann & Hildebrand, 1910.
Cichlinae Jacques Pellegrin Pearl cichlid Franz Steindachner Charles Tate Regan Redhump eartheater Digital Object Identifier
366510
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