''Geophagus'' is a
genus
Genus ( plural genera ) is a taxonomic rank used in the biological classification of living and fossil organisms as well as viruses. In the hierarchy of biological classification, genus comes above species and below family. In binomial n ...
of
cichlid
Cichlids are fish from the family Cichlidae in the order Cichliformes. Cichlids were traditionally classed in a suborder, the Labroidei, along with the wrasses ( Labridae), in the order Perciformes, but molecular studies have contradicted th ...
s that mainly live in
South America
South America is a continent entirely in the Western Hemisphere and mostly in the Southern Hemisphere, with a relatively small portion in the Northern Hemisphere at the northern tip of the continent. It can also be described as the souther ...
as far south as
Argentina
Argentina (), officially the Argentine Republic ( es, link=no, República Argentina), is a country in the southern half of South America. Argentina covers an area of , making it the second-largest country in South America after Brazil, t ...
and
Uruguay
Uruguay (; ), officially the Oriental Republic of Uruguay ( es, República Oriental del Uruguay), is a country in South America. It shares borders with Argentina to its west and southwest and Brazil to its north and northeast; while bordering ...
, but a single species, ''G. crassilabris'' is from
Panama
Panama ( , ; es, link=no, Panamá ), officially the Republic of Panama ( es, República de Panamá), is a transcontinental country spanning the southern part of North America and the northern part of South America. It is bordered by Co ...
.
[Mattos, J.L.O., Costa, W.J.E.M. & Santos, A.C.A. (2015): ''Geophagus diamantinensis'', a new species of the ''G. brasiliensis'' species group from Chapada Diamantina, north-eastern Brazil (Cichlidae: Geophagini). ''Ichthyological Explorations of Freshwaters, 26 (3): 209-220.''] They are found in a wide range of freshwater habitats.
They are part of a group popularly known as
eartheaters and mostly feed by picking up mouthfuls of sediment to sift out food items such as invertebrates, plant material and
detritus
In biology, detritus () is dead particulate organic material, as distinguished from dissolved organic material. Detritus typically includes the bodies or fragments of bodies of dead organisms, and fecal material. Detritus typically hosts commu ...
.
[ The largest species reach up to in ]standard length
Fish measurement is the measuring of individual fish and various parts of their anatomies. These data are used in many areas of ichthyology, including taxonomy and fisheries biology.
Overall length
* Standard length (SL) is the length of a fish ...
.[ They are often kept in aquariums.]
As an invasive species
Geophagus Surinamensis was an invasive species in Malaysia, recently found in Putrajaya, the populations are now controlled by giant snakehead
''Channa micropeltes'', giant snakehead, giant mudfish or toman harimau, is among the largest species in the family Channidae, capable of growing to in length and a weight of . It is native to the fresh waters of Southeast Asia (South Indian popu ...
s.
Taxonomy
Some cichlids previously included in this genus have been reallocated to '' Biotodoma'', ''Gymnogeophagus
''Gymnogeophagus'' is a genus of cichlid fishes from South America, where they are known from various river basins (notably Rio de la Plata and Lagoa dos Patos– Mirim) in southern Brazil, Paraguay, Uruguay and northern Argentina. They are part ...
'' or '' Satanoperca''. Even with these as separate genera, ''Geophagus'' is currently polyphyletic
A polyphyletic group is an assemblage of organisms or other evolving elements that is of mixed evolutionary origin. The term is often applied to groups that share similar features known as homoplasies, which are explained as a result of conver ...
and in need of further taxonomic
Taxonomy is the practice and science of categorization or classification.
A taxonomy (or taxonomical classification) is a scheme of classification, especially a hierarchical classification, in which things are organized into groups or types. A ...
revision. There are three main groups:
* ''Geophagus sensu stricto
''Sensu'' is a Latin word meaning "in the sense of". It is used in a number of fields including biology, geology, linguistics, semiotics, and law. Commonly it refers to how strictly or loosely an expression is used in describing any particular c ...
'' are mostly relatively peaceful, often have long fin extensions and are native to the Amazon
Amazon most often refers to:
* Amazons, a tribe of female warriors in Greek mythology
* Amazon rainforest, a rainforest covering most of the Amazon basin
* Amazon River, in South America
* Amazon (company), an American multinational technolog ...
, Orinoco
The Orinoco () is one of the longest rivers in South America at . Its drainage basin, sometimes known as the Orinoquia, covers , with 76.3 percent of it in Venezuela and the remainder in Colombia. It is the fourth largest river in the wo ...
and Parnaíba
Parnaíba () is a city in the Brazilian state of Piauí. Having a population of over 150,000 inhabitants according to IBGE's 2020 report, it is the second most populous city in the state, after the capital Teresina. It is one of the four coast ...
basins, as well as rivers of the Guianas
The Guianas, sometimes called by the Spanish loan-word ''Guayanas'' (''Las Guayanas''), is a region in north-eastern South America which includes the following three territories:
* French Guiana, an overseas department and region of France
* ...
. This group can be divided into two subgroups: The first is the ''G. surinamensis'' complex
Complex commonly refers to:
* Complexity, the behaviour of a system whose components interact in multiple ways so possible interactions are difficult to describe
** Complex system, a system composed of many components which may interact with each ...
, which includes most species (fish in the aquarium trade often are identified as ''G. surinamensis'' itself, but they are typically other members of this complex.) The second subgroup contains ''G. argyrostictus'', ''G. gottwaldi'', ''G. grammepareius'', ''G. harreri'' and ''G. taeniopareius'', which are somewhat less peaceful and can be separated from the ''G. surinamensis'' complex by their dark stripe below the eye (however, this feature is shared with the next group).
* ''G. brasiliensis'' complex (including ''G. diamantinensis'', ''G. iporangensis'', ''G. itapicuruensis'', ''G. multiocellus'', ''G. obscurus'', ''G. rufomarginatus'' and ''G. santosi'') are more robust and aggressive species found in river basins of eastern and southeastern Brazil, Uruguay and northeastern Argentina.
* ''G. steindachneri'' complex (including ''G. crassilabris'' and ''G. pellegrini'' and undescribed species entering the aquarium trade from Colombia) found west of the Andes
The Andes, Andes Mountains or Andean Mountains (; ) are the longest continental mountain range in the world, forming a continuous highland along the western edge of South America. The range is long, wide (widest between 18°S – 20°S ...
in northern and western Colombia, northwestern Venezuela and Panama where adult males develop a distinct, bulbous red forehead.
Species
There are currently 32 recognized species in this genus. Additionally, plus the species already described in 2022 that are know
The new species of Geophagus naming a cichlid species in 2022
* ''Geophagus abalios
''Geophagus'' is a genus of cichlids that mainly live in South America as far south as Argentina and Uruguay, but a single species, ''G. crassilabris'' is from Panama.Mattos, J.L.O., Costa, W.J.E.M. & Santos, A.C.A. (2015): ''Geophagus diam ...
'' López-Fernández & Taphorn, 2004
* ''Geophagus altifrons
''Geophagus altifrons'' is a freshwater eartheater cichlid fish native to the Amazon River Basin, Brazil.
Introduced to Singapore, it thrives in slow-moving streams and reservoirs. Its ecological impact on its adopted habitat is still unk ...
'' Heckel, 1840
* ''Geophagus argyrostictus
''Geophagus'' is a genus of cichlids that mainly live in South America as far south as Argentina and Uruguay, but a single species, ''G. crassilabris'' is from Panama.Mattos, J.L.O., Costa, W.J.E.M. & Santos, A.C.A. (2015): ''Geophagus diam ...
'' S. O. Kullander, 1991
* '' Geophagus brachybranchus'' S. O. Kullander & Nijssen Nijssen is a Dutch patronymic surname originating from the given name "Denijs" (DenisPeople with this surname include:
;
;Nijssen
* Han Nijssen (1935–2013), Dutch ichthyologist
* Sjir Nijssen (born 1938), Dutch computer scientist known for Nij ...
, 1989
* '' Geophagus brasiliensis'' ( Quoy & Gaimard
Joseph Paul Gaimard (31 January 1793 – 10 December 1858) was a French naval surgeon
A naval surgeon, or less commonly ship's doctor, is the person responsible for the health of the ship's company aboard a warship. The term appears often ...
, 1824) (Pearl cichlid)
* ''Geophagus brokopondo
''Geophagus'' is a genus of cichlids that mainly live in South America as far south as Argentina and Uruguay, but a single species, ''G. crassilabris'' is from Panama.Mattos, J.L.O., Costa, W.J.E.M. & Santos, A.C.A. (2015): ''Geophagus diamantin ...
'' S. O. Kullander & Nijssen Nijssen is a Dutch patronymic surname originating from the given name "Denijs" (DenisPeople with this surname include:
;
;Nijssen
* Han Nijssen (1935–2013), Dutch ichthyologist
* Sjir Nijssen (born 1938), Dutch computer scientist known for Nij ...
, 1989
* ''Geophagus camopiensis
''Geophagus'' is a genus of cichlids that mainly live in South America as far south as Argentina and Uruguay, but a single species, ''G. crassilabris'' is from Panama.Mattos, J.L.O., Costa, W.J.E.M. & Santos, A.C.A. (2015): ''Geophagus diam ...
'' Pellegrin, 1903 (Oyapock eartheater)
* ''Geophagus crassilabris
''Geophagus'' is a genus of cichlids that mainly live in South America as far south as Argentina and Uruguay, but a single species, ''G. crassilabris'' is from Panama.Mattos, J.L.O., Costa, W.J.E.M. & Santos, A.C.A. (2015): ''Geophagus diam ...
'' Steindachner
Franz Steindachner (11 November 1834 in Vienna – 10 December 1919 in Vienna) was an Austrian zoologist, ichthyologist, and herpetologist. He published over 200 papers on fishes and over 50 papers on reptiles and amphibians. Steindachner describ ...
, 1876 (Panamanian eartheater)
* '' Geophagus crocatus'' Hauser Hauser is a German-language surname. Notable people with the surname include:
* Arnold George Hauser (1888–1966), American baseball player
* Arnold Hauser (art historian) (1892–1978), Hungarian art historian
* Bodo Hauser (1946–2004), Germa ...
& López-Fernández, 2013[Hauser, F.E. & López-Fernández, H. (2013): ''Geophagus crocatus'', a new species of geophagine cichlid from the Berbice River, Guyana, South America (Teleostei: Cichlidae). ''Zootaxa, 3731 (2): 279–286.'']
* '' Geophagus diamantinensis'' Mattos, W. J. E. M. Costa & A. C. A. Santos, 2015[
* '']Geophagus dicrozoster
''Geophagus'' is a genus of cichlids that mainly live in South America as far south as Argentina and Uruguay, but a single species, ''G. crassilabris'' is from Panama.Mattos, J.L.O., Costa, W.J.E.M. & Santos, A.C.A. (2015): ''Geophagus diam ...
'' López-Fernández & Taphorn, 2004
* ''Geophagus gottwaldi
''Geophagus'' is a genus of cichlids that mainly live in South America as far south as Argentina and Uruguay, but a single species, ''G. crassilabris'' is from Panama.Mattos, J.L.O., Costa, W.J.E.M. & Santos, A.C.A. (2015): ''Geophagus diam ...
'' I. Schindler & Staeck, 2006[Schindler, I. & Staeck, W. (2006): ''Geophagus gottwaldi'' sp. n. - a new species of cichlid fish (Teleostei: Perciformes: Cichlidae) from the drainage of the upper rio Orinoco in Venezuela. ''Zoologische Abhandlungen (Dresden), 56: 91-97.'']
* ''Geophagus grammepareius
''Geophagus'' is a genus of cichlids that mainly live in South America as far south as Argentina and Uruguay, but a single species, ''G. crassilabris'' is from Panama.Mattos, J.L.O., Costa, W.J.E.M. & Santos, A.C.A. (2015): ''Geophagus diam ...
'' S. O. Kullander & Taphorn, 1992
* ''Geophagus harreri
''Geophagus'' is a genus of cichlids that mainly live in South America as far south as Argentina and Uruguay, but a single species, ''G. crassilabris'' is from Panama.Mattos, J.L.O., Costa, W.J.E.M. & Santos, A.C.A. (2015): ''Geophagus diam ...
'' J. P. Gosse, 1976 (Maroni eartheater)
* '' Geophagus iporangensis'' Haseman, 1911
* '' Geophagus itapicuruensis'' Haseman, 1911
* ''Geophagus megasema
''Geophagus'' is a genus of cichlids that mainly live in South America as far south as Argentina and Uruguay, but a single species, ''G. crassilabris'' is from Panama.Mattos, J.L.O., Costa, W.J.E.M. & Santos, A.C.A. (2015): ''Geophagus diamantin ...
'' Heckel, 1840
* '' Geophagus mirabilis'' Deprá, S. O. Kullander, Pavanelli & da Graça, 2014
* ''Geophagus multiocellus
''Geophagus'' is a genus of cichlids that mainly live in South America as far south as Argentina and Uruguay, but a single species, ''G. crassilabris'' is from Panama.Mattos, J.L.O., Costa, W.J.E.M. & Santos, A.C.A. (2015): ''Geophagus diamantin ...
'' Mattos & W. J. E. M. Costa, 2018[
* '']Geophagus neambi
''Geophagus neambi'' is a Geophagini cichlid native to the Tocantins River drainage in Brazil
Brazil ( pt, Brasil; ), officially the Federative Republic of Brazil (Portuguese: ), is the largest country in both South America and Latin Am ...
'' P. H. L. Lucinda, C. A. S. de Lucena & Assis
Assis is a city and a municipality in the southwestern part of the state of São Paulo in Brazil. The population is 105,087 (2020 est.) in an area of 460.61 km. The town was founded on July 5, 1905, and became a municipality in 1917, when it ...
, 2010
* '' Geophagus obscurus'' ( Castelnau, 1855)
* ''Geophagus parnaibae
''Geophagus'' is a genus of cichlids that mainly live in South America as far south as Argentina and Uruguay, but a single species, ''G. crassilabris'' is from Panama.Mattos, J.L.O., Costa, W.J.E.M. & Santos, A.C.A. (2015): ''Geophagus diamantin ...
'' Staeck & I. Schindler, 2006[Staeck, W. & Schindler, I. (2006): ''Geophagus parnaibae'' sp. n. - a new species of cichlid fish (Teleostei: Perciformes: Cichlidae) from the rio Parnaiba basin, Brazil. ''Zoologische Abhandlungen (Dresden), 55: 69-75.'']
* ''Geophagus pellegrini
''Geophagus'' is a genus of cichlids that mainly live in South America as far south as Argentina and Uruguay, but a single species, ''G. crassilabris'' is from Panama.Mattos, J.L.O., Costa, W.J.E.M. & Santos, A.C.A. (2015): ''Geophagus diamantin ...
'' Regan
The family name Regan, along with its cognates O'Regan, O Regan, Reagan, and O'Reagan, is an Anglicized form of the Irish surname Ó Riagáin or Ó Ríogáin, from Ua Riagáin. The meaning is likely to have originated in ancient Gaelic ''ri' ...
, 1912 (Yellowhump eartheater)
* '' Geophagus proximus'' ( Castelnau, 1855)
* ''Geophagus pyrocephalus''
* ''Geophagus rufomarginatus
''Geophagus'' is a genus of cichlids that mainly live in South America as far south as Argentina and Uruguay, but a single species, ''G. crassilabris'' is from Panama.Mattos, J.L.O., Costa, W.J.E.M. & Santos, A.C.A. (2015): ''Geophagus diam ...
'' Mattos & W. J. E. M. Costa, 2018[
* '']Geophagus santosi
''Geophagus'' is a genus of cichlids that mainly live in South America as far south as Argentina and Uruguay, but a single species, ''G. crassilabris'' is from Panama.Mattos, J.L.O., Costa, W.J.E.M. & Santos, A.C.A. (2015): ''Geophagus diamantin ...
'' Mattos & W. J. E. M. Costa, 2018[
* '']Geophagus steindachneri
The redhump eartheater ('Geophagus steindachneri') is a species of eartheater cichlid from freshwater habitats in northwestern South America.Geophagus steindachneri'. FishBase. Agustin, L., Kullander, S., & Torres, A. (2001-2008).
Distribution ...
'' C. H. Eigenmann & Hildebrand
Hildebrand is a character from Germanic heroic legend. ''Hildebrand'' is the modern German form of the name: in Old High German it is ''Hiltibrant'' and in Old Norse ''Hildibrandr''. The word ''hild'' means "battle" and ''brand'' means "sword". ...
, 1922 (Redhump eartheater)
* '' Geophagus surinamensis'' (Bloch Bloch is a surname of German origin. Notable people with this surname include:
A–F
* (1859-1914), French rabbi
* Adele Bloch-Bauer (1881-1925), Austrian entrepreneur
* Albert Bloch (1882–1961), American painter
* (born 1972), German motor jour ...
, 1791) (Red-striped eartheater)
* ''Geophagus sveni
''Geophagus sveni'' is a Geophagini cichlid native to the Tocantins River drainage in Brazil
Brazil ( pt, Brasil; ), officially the Federative Republic of Brazil (Portuguese: ), is the largest country in both South America and Latin Ame ...
'' P. H. F. Lucinda, C. A. S. de Lucena & Assis
Assis is a city and a municipality in the southwestern part of the state of São Paulo in Brazil. The population is 105,087 (2020 est.) in an area of 460.61 km. The town was founded on July 5, 1905, and became a municipality in 1917, when it ...
, 2010
* '' Geophagus taeniopareius'' S. O. Kullander & Royero-L., 1992
* ''Geophagus winemilleri
''Geophagus'' is a genus of cichlids that mainly live in South America as far south as Argentina and Uruguay, but a single species, ''G. crassilabris'' is from Panama.Mattos, J.L.O., Costa, W.J.E.M. & Santos, A.C.A. (2015): ''Geophagus diamantin ...
'' López-Fernández & Taphorn, 2004
References
{{Taxonbar, from=Q1754747
Geophagini
Cichlid fish of South America
Cichlid genera
Taxa named by Johann Jakob Heckel