Cichlids
The cichlid is a tropical freshwater fish that can be found in lakes, rivers and other bodies of water over a large part of the globe, as well as in numerous aquariums. The cichlid species all belong to the family Cichlidae, a huge family that currently contains roughly 1,900 to 2,200 species (depending on which expert you ask). The family Cichlidae is actually one of the three largest vertebrate families. Cichlids have adapted to a wide range of habitats and they look very dissimilar, but they still have a few traits in common. All cichlids are for instance equipped with a small intestine that leaves the body on the left side. This sets them aside from the other fishes, since their small intestine leaves the body on the right side. If you look closely into the mouth of a cichlid, you will find teeth not only in both the upper and the lower jaw, but in the throat as well. Another interesting trait that you can see in all cichlids is the presence of only one single nostril – not two. (This peculiarity is shared with the marine damselfishes.) The cichlids can trace their ancestry back to fishes that lived in the ocean and many cichlids are therefore still very tolerant to waters with a high degree of dissolved minerals. You can for instance find cichlids living in lakes on the African continent where the level of dissolved minerals from the surrounding mountains is extremely high.
Filed under: Pets