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CPIE Project
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Page V5
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Key to Family Cichlidae
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Family CICHLIDAE Cichlids -- many commonly referred to as "tilapia" -- comprise a very large family (about 1000 species) of freshwater fishes which occur naturally (with only a few exceptions) in South America and Africa. Many of these fishes are popular in the aquarium trade and others have found value in aquaculture. As a result, species have been introduced all around the world, including Hawai`i. There are now perhaps 15 or more species naturalized in Hawaiian streams and reservoirs -- mostly unwanted in these aquatic environments. Others, such as Oreochromis mossambica and Sarotherodon melanotheron, while "freshwater" species, adapt well to estuarine and even highly saline environments and have invaded harbors, fishponds, and poikilohaline lagoons. Many cichlids tend to be aggressive fish, forcing other species out of the habitat as their population expands.
The taxonomy of cichlids is somewhat confused, and name changes are frequent. The following (draft) key is based heavily on features observable in the field. In some species, marked color changes occur during the breeding season.
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[DRAFT] Dichotomous Key to Family Cichlidae
80a (65) fish characterized by faint to very prominant vertical bars [71]
80b Color pattern otherwise [75]
71a (70) Fish highly compressed, the dorsal and anal fins extended out
and back to give the (adult) body a triangular appearance. Pelvic
fins long and narrow. Color silver with four distinct black bars,
1st through eye, 3rd extending from tip of dorsal to tip of anal,
4th short, at base of caudal fin. Rare, in reservoirs. Angelfish
Pterophyllum sp.
71b Fish compressed, but not extremely so and not at all triangular in
basic form [72]
72a (71) Pattern of 6-8 black bars on a field of white to silvery-gray,
bars extending clearly across the back and unbroken to the belly.
Trailing edges of dorsal and anal fins prolonged to points. Face
between mouth and eye convex. Streams and reservoirs. Convict
cichilid Cichilasoma nigrofasciatum
72b Black bars less prominant: either broken, faint, or more like a series
of blotches. Trailing edges of dorsal and anal fins rounded or acute,
but not so prolonged as to reach past the middle of the caudal fin
[73]
73a (72) Five to 6 bars present, these rather faint in older individuals,
prominant as blotches, fading above and below on a field of yellow
(juveniles) to yellowish-green. A broad, dark line extends back from
the mouth through the eye to nearly the front of the dorsal fin. Two
bright red spots on the opercular angle. Juveniles with numerous red
spots forming a discontinuous stripe along the middle of the body in
young individuals. Fins edged in red. Face between eyes and mouth very
concave. Recent introduction to reservoirs and streams on O`ahu.
Banded jewelfish Hemichromis fasciatus Peters
73b Not as described. Bands generally faint or background not yellow. Other
colors or spots more conspicuous. Red or orange, if present, on belly
or chin [74]
75a (70) A large "eye-spot" (black spot ringed in yellow or orange) present
on caudal peduncle. Oscar Astronotus ocellatus (Agassiz)
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© 2001 AECOS, Inc. [FILE: ver_05.html]
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Fishes
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