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

cichlid Cichlids are fish from the family Cichlidae in the order Cichliformes. Cichlids were traditionally classed in a suborder, the Labroidei, along with the wrasses ( Labridae), in the order Perciformes, but molecular studies have contradicted this ...

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 subfamily botanical names with "-oideae", and zoologi ...

Cichlasomatinae The Cichlasomatinae are a subfamily of cichlid fishes, including all ciclids native to the Greater Antilles (Cuba and Hispaniola), United States (southern Texas), Mexico and Central America, and many of the cichlids from South America (the other ...

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

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 The Pacific Slope describes geographic regions in North American, Central American, and South American countries that are west of the continental divide and slope down to the Pacific Ocean. In North America, the Rocky Mountains mark the eastern bo ...

of Central America 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 and Nevada but these populations were extirpated, 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 Hybrid may refer to: Science * Hybrid (biology), an offspring resulting from cross-breeding ** Hybrid grape, grape varieties produced by cross-breeding two ''Vitis'' species ** Hybridity, the property of a hybrid plant which is a union of two dif ...

flowerhorn cichlid Flowerhorn cichlids are ornamental aquarium fish noted for their vivid colors and the distinctively shaped heads for which they are named. Their head protuberance is formally called a Nuchal lines, nuchal hump. Like blood parrot cichlids, they ar ...

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 Fish of Nicaragua Taxa named by Albert Günther Fish described in 1867 {{Cichlidae-stub