The three spot cichlid (''Cichlasoma trimaculatum''), also known as the trimac or red-eyed cichlid, is a species 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 ...

from Mexico and Central America, from the subfamily

Cichlasomatinae The Cichlasomatinae are a subfamily of cichlid fishes, including all ciclids native to the Greater Antilles (Cuba and Hispaniola), United States (southern Texas), Mexico and Central America, and many of the cichlids from South America (the other ...

. It is a rarely found as an aquarium fish. Although still included as a highly aberrant member of '' Amphilophus'' by

FishBase FishBase is a global species database of fish species (specifically finfish). It is the largest and most extensively accessed online database on adult finfish on the web.

, other authorities such as

Catalog of Fishes Catalog of Fishes is a comprehensive on-line database and reference work on the scientific names of fish species and genera. It is global in its scope and is hosted by the California Academy of Sciences. It has been compiled and is continuously u ...

have moved it to the genus '' Amphilophus''.

Appearance

The three spot cichlid is a large heavy bodied cichlid. It has a green or yellow hue base with the distinct spots on its sides. The male is much larger than the female growing up to 15" he has longer more pointed fins and a large red spot behind his gills. The female is smaller growing up to 9-10" and a less dominant red spot. The male may also grow a nuchal hump when mature.

Distribution and habitat

The threespot cichlid is found in slow flowing stretches in the lower river valleys of the rivers of the Pacific Slope of

Central America Central America ( es, América Central or ) is a subregion of the Americas. Its boundaries are defined as bordering the United States to the north, Colombia to the south, the Caribbean Sea to the east, and the Pacific Ocean to the west. ...

from Mexico to Panama, where there is a muddy or sandy substrate. Here it is found among the roots and weeds. It has been found as an introduced species in

Florida Florida is a state located in the Southeastern region of the United States. Florida is bordered to the west by the Gulf of Mexico, to the northwest by Alabama, to the north by Georgia, to the east by the Bahamas and Atlantic Ocean, a ...

and

Nevada Nevada ( ; ) is a state in the Western region of the United States. It is bordered by Oregon to the northwest, Idaho to the northeast, California to the west, Arizona to the southeast, and Utah to the east. Nevada is the 7th-most extensive, ...

but these populations were

extirpated Local extinction, also known as extirpation, refers to a species (or other taxon) of plant or animal that ceases to exist in a chosen geographic area of study, though it still exists elsewhere. Local extinctions are contrasted with global extinct ...

, and in Singapore.

Biology

The three spot cichlid feeds mainly on small fishes and invertebrates, including both aquatic and terrestrial insects. A large female may lay over 1,000 eggs and reach sexual maturity at a length of , while for males this is attained at . The pair usually select a flat stone and spawn on that, both parents guard the eggs fiercely and will also tend the fry after they have hatched.

In the aquarium

Trimacs cichlids are rarely found in the aquarium trade. It is thought that the three spot cichlid was used in the creation of the

hybrid Hybrid may refer to: Science * Hybrid (biology), an offspring resulting from cross-breeding ** Hybrid grape, grape varieties produced by cross-breeding two ''Vitis'' species ** Hybridity, the property of a hybrid plant which is a union of two diff ...

flowerhorn cichlid Flowerhorn cichlids are ornamental aquarium fish noted for their vivid colors and the distinctively shaped heads for which they are named. Their head protuberance is formally called a nuchal hump. Like blood parrot cichlids, they are hybrids tha ...

References

External links

"Trimac Cichlid AKA Three-Spot Cichlid"
www.aquariacentral.com, accessed July 24, 2008 three spot cichlid Cichlid fish of Central America Fish of El Salvador Fish of Honduras Fish of Nicaragua Taxa named by Albert Günther Fish described in 1867 {{Cichlidae-stub