Country Species Summary

Cichla ocellaris in US Virgin Islands
Peacock cichlid

Cichla ocellaris Bloch & Schneider, 1801
Family:	Cichlidae (Cichlids) , subfamily: Cichlinae	picture (Cioce_u0.jpg) by JJPhoto
Order:	Perciformes (perch-likes)
Class:	Actinopterygii (ray-finned fishes)
FishBase name:	Peacock cichlid
Max. size:	74.0 cm TL (male/unsexed; Ref. 40637); max. published weight: 6,800 g (Ref. 40637)
Environment:	benthopelagic ; depth range - 5 m
Climate:	tropical; 24 - 27°C; 26°N - 9°S
Global Importance:	fisheries: minor commercial; aquaculture: commercial; aquarium: commercial
Resilience:	High, minimum population doubling time less than 15 months (Assuming tm=1; multiple spawning per year; Fec=9,000-15,000)
Distribution:	South America: Marowijne drainage in Suriname and French Guiana to the Essequibo drainage in Guyana.
Diagnosis:	Diagnosis. Distinguished from all other species of Cichla except C. nigromaculata, C. intermedia, C. piquiti, and C. melaniae, by presence of bars 1a and 2a. Lateral band abbreviated in juveniles. Distinguished from its congeners with abbreviated lateral band by lateral line usually continuous (vs. discontinuous or nearly always discontinuous in orinocensis and nigromaculata; scales in E1 row (67-) 70-80 (-82) (vs. 84-93 in pleiozona); occipital bar absent or indistinct (vs. emphasized in adults of monoculus, kelberi, and pleiozona); abdominal blotches present (vs. absent in orinocensis); vertical bars present at adult size (vs. three midlateral ocellated blotches in orinocensis), except that an ocellated blotch consistently formed in dorsal portion of bar 3; absence of small black blotches on dorsum (vs. present in nigromaculata); vertical bars about equally wide across side (vs. wide, occasionally confluent dorsally, and tapering ventrad in nigromaculata, monoculus, kelberi, and pleiozona. Distinguished from C. intermedia, C. piquiti, and C. melaniae by abbreviated vs. complete juvenile lateral band, less scales in E1 row (67-82 vs. (78) 83-108), and presence of ocellated blotch in dorsal portion of bar 3 vs. absence (Ref. 57716). Description: Appears basically yellow with a dark green back and white belly; eyes reddish with several dark vertical bands extending partially down the sides of the body; males with prominent hump on the nape; distinct black "eye spot" on the tail, from which the fish got its name (Ref. 44091).
Biology:	Occurs in the rapids, in quiet waters with medium depth and rocky substrates (Ref. 35237). Forms schools (Ref. 9086). Feeds only on small fish, especially threadfin shad, mosquito fish, tilapia and bluegill. Not considered ideal for aquaculture due to its highly predatory habits (Ref. 1739). Reproduction occurs year-round, with a peak at the start of the rainy season. About 9,000 to 15,000 eggs per kg are released during spawning. Spawning takes place every two months on a flat stone in shallow water. The sticky eggs, measuring 1.4 mm in diameter, take 78 hours to hatch at 28°C
Threatened:	Not Evaluated, see IUCN Red List , (Ref. 36508)
Dangerous:	potential pest
Coordinator:	Kullander, Sven O.
Main Ref:	Kullander, S.O. and H. Nijssen. 1989. (Ref. 26372)
Update \| Add

US Virgin Islands country information
Common names:	[ No common name ]	Ref:
Status:	introduced	Ref:
Salinity:	freshwater
Regulations:	no regulations	Ref:
Uses:	no uses
Comments:	Introduced into freshwater ponds (Ref. 26180).
Country Information:	www.cia.gov/cia/publications/factbook/geos/vq.html
Occurrences:	Occurrences Point map
Main Ref:	Ogden, J.C., J.A. Yntema and I. Clavijo, 1975
Update

More information:

Countries

FAO areas

Occurrences

Introductions

Ecosystem

Ecology

Diet

Food items

Food consumption

Ration

Predators

Ciguatera

Fish loss

Common names

Synonyms

Pictures

Sounds

Reproduction

Maturity

Spawning

Eggs

Egg dev.

Larvae

Larval dynamics

References

Growth

L-W relationship

L-L relationship

Length frequencies

Recruitment

Max. age & size

Metabolism

Morphology

Morphometrics

Gill area

Brains

Vision

Collaborators

Genetics

Allele frequencies

Heritability

Strains

Aquaculture

Aquaculture profile

Diseases

Ecotoxicology

Processing

Speed

Swim. type

Stamps

Note: No data are available if label is black .

Tools:

Internet sources:

Note: use the Back button of your browser to return to FishBase.

Modified: Casal, Christine Marie V.

Entered: Capuli, Estelita Emily

CGNET - US

Page created by: Eli, 20.10.03, last modified by Eli, 26.06.07

	Ref.:		Glossary
		(e.g. 9948)		(e.g. cephalopods)
ThisFishForum Comments & Corrections Sign our Guest Book
Back to Search