Cichlids are among the intellectuals of fishes. However, many generalities effectively apply to the majority of species. Because of the family's diversity, it is difficult to ascribe characteristics to all members of the group. All have only one nostril on each side of the head, not two, and they have both a spiny, and a soft, dorsal fin.īehavior: Cichlids show some of the most complex and highly evolved behavior patterns of all fishes. Morphology: Although they include a range of wildly differing species, Cichlids share several unique physical characteristics. If you want a trophy-sized opponent, they're still all waiting in the Amazon temensis have ever been successfully transplanted outside of the Amazon basin and Lake Guri. However, no permanent populations of the giant species, C. ocellaris) are happily swimming in many of the major freshwater canals in Dade County, Florida.

(For that matter neither are the largemouth and smallmouth bass, Micopterus Sp., found in North American waters, they're actually sunfish/Centrarchids.) Cichlids are a diverse family of tropical fishes found primarily throughout Africa, South America and southern Asia.Īlthough all peacock bass species are highly temperature sensitive, some have been successfully introduced in tropical areas from Panama to Hawaii. Peacock bass are not bass, but comprise a genus within the family Cichlidae. Their remarkable, explosive topwater strike, combined with an astonishing ability to break heavy lines and leaders and straighten even stout saltwater hooks, makes them one of the most sought after species in the Amazon basin. Of all the incredible gamefish in the Amazon basin, the one that has received the most press is the peacock bass. Rock strata containing this matching evidence are found in the Karroo System in South Africa, the Gondwana System in India, and the Santa Catharina System in South America. Some examples include the occurrence of tillites (glacial deposits) from the time between the Carboniferous and Permian periods, and the existence of similar and unique floras and faunas that are not found in the Northern Hemisphere. Significant geologic, paleobiological and current biological evidence for the land connection between the currently separated southern continents is clear. The southern landmass became Gondwanaland while Laurasia formed to the north. Later theorists describe the separation of Pangaea into two supercontinents late in the Triassic Period (245 to 208 million years ago). He postulated a single great landmass, Pangaea. History: In 1912 a German scientist, Alfred Wegener, was the first person to put forth the concept that the continents were joined at one time in the geologic past. Presumed to have existed from 300 to 200 million years ago until separated by continental drift. Today, although the history of this relationship between Amazonian, African and Australian fishes remains evident, their modern descendants have speciated into thousands of endemic varieties.ĭefinition: A hypothetical supercontinent made up of South America, Africa, Australia, Antarctica and the Indian subcontinent. Upon the separation of these continents, these mutual ancestors then evolved independently. The most commonly accepted theory regarding these Amazon species is that their precursors evolved during a period when what is now South America, Africa, southern Asia and Australia were a single continent called Gondwanaland. The adventurous angler will find no harder fighting or more exciting gamefish anywhere in the world.Īmazonian fish species evolved from an ancient line of groups that were already established over 200 million years ago. What the aquarist has long known, the sport fisherman is finally discovering. This extraordinary aquatic biodiversity has also created the richest freshwater sport fishery in existence. The aquarium trade has long found some of its most beautiful, interesting and exotic specimens here. The Amazon basin and its surrounding drainage is home to over 3000 freshwater fish species, almost a third of all the freshwater fish species that exist in the entire world.

Trophy freshwater drum mud river