THE CICHLIDS 



Family L VIII. Cichlida; 



THE Cichlids are a large family of freshwater fishes of moderate 

 or small size in southern Mexico, Central and South America, 

 resembling in form, size, appearance, habits, and even in many 

 details of structure, the sunfishes or Centrarchidce of the United 

 States, from which they are readily distinguished, however, by 

 having the lower pharyngeals fully united, and only a single nos- 

 tril on each side. The family contains some 40 genera and 150 

 species. North of the Isthmus of Panama are found 7 genera, 

 represented by about 60 species. The principal genera are 

 Cichlasoma, Heros and Petenia. The species have not been care- 

 fully studied, and little is known of their habits or distribution. 



Petenia has with us a single species, P. splendida, known 

 only from Lake Peten and the Rio Usumacinta. It is a handsome 

 fish 10 inches long, and much resembling our calico bass in 

 general appearance. 



The genus Cichlasoma is a large one with 25 or 30 species, 

 north of the Isthmus of Panama, in all the lakes and larger 

 streams of Central America and southern Mexico. The majority 

 of the species are little known and poorly defined. 



The genus Heros also contains many species, about 25 being 

 within our limits, occupying the same waters as the species of 

 Cichlasoma. Only one, H. cyanoguttatus, is found as far north 

 as the Rio Grande, this species having been taken at Browns- 

 ville, Texas. 



All the members of this family are food-fishes of some value, 

 and some of them at least will take the hook. 



475 



