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

cichlid Cichlids () are a large, diverse, and widespread family of percomorph fish in the family Cichlidae, order Cichliformes. At least 1,760 species have been scientifically described, making it one of the largest vertebrate families, with on ...

from Mexico and Central America, from the

subfamily In biological classification, a subfamily (Latin: ', plural ') is an auxiliary (intermediate) taxonomic rank, next below family but more inclusive than genus. Standard nomenclature rules end botanical subfamily names with "-oideae", and zo ...

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

Cichlasoma ''Cichlasoma'' is a genus of freshwater fish in the cichlid family. The genus was previously very large (a wastebasket taxon), including cichlids from North America, including Central America, and South America. Reclassification and subsequent ...

'' 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 have moved it to the genus ''

Amphilophus ''Amphilophus'' is a genus of cichlid fishes from Central America, ranging from southern Mexico to Panama. The genus currently contains 23 species, including several that are well known from the aquarium trade. However, studies led by Oldřich � ...

''.

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 is a subregion of North America. Its political boundaries are defined as bordering Mexico to the north, Colombia to the southeast, the Caribbean to the east, and the Pacific Ocean to the southwest. Central America is usually ...

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 U.S. state, state in the Southeastern United States, Southeastern region of the United States. It borders the Gulf of Mexico to the west, Alabama to the northwest, Georgia (U.S. state), Georgia to the north, the Atlantic ...

and

Nevada Nevada ( ; ) is a landlocked state in the Western United States. It borders Oregon to the northwest, Idaho to the northeast, California to the west, Arizona to the southeast, and Utah to the east. Nevada is the seventh-most extensive, th ...

but these populations were

extirpated Local extinction, also extirpation, is the termination of a species (or other taxon) in a chosen geographic area of study, though it still exists elsewhere. Local extinctions are contrasted with global extinctions. Local extinctions mark a chan ...

, 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 flowerhorn cichlid.

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 Freshwater fish of Nicaragua Taxa named by Albert Günther Fish described in 1867 {{Cichlasomatinae-stub