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''Geophagus'' is a
genus Genus ( plural genera ) is a taxonomic rank used in the biological classification of extant taxon, living and fossil organisms as well as Virus classification#ICTV classification, viruses. In the hierarchy of biological classification, genus com ...
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 ...
s that mainly live in
South America South America is a continent entirely in the Western Hemisphere and mostly in the Southern Hemisphere, with a relatively small portion in the Northern Hemisphere at the northern tip of the continent. It can also be described as the southe ...
as far south as
Argentina Argentina (), officially the Argentine Republic ( es, link=no, República Argentina), is a country in the southern half of South America. Argentina covers an area of , making it the second-largest country in South America after Brazil, th ...
and
Uruguay Uruguay (; ), officially the Oriental Republic of Uruguay ( es, República Oriental del Uruguay), is a country in South America. It shares borders with Argentina to its west and southwest and Brazil to its north and northeast; while bordering ...
, but a single species, ''G. crassilabris'' is from
Panama Panama ( , ; es, link=no, Panamá ), officially the Republic of Panama ( es, República de Panamá), is a transcontinental country spanning the southern part of North America and the northern part of South America. It is bordered by Cos ...
.Mattos, J.L.O., Costa, W.J.E.M. & Santos, A.C.A. (2015): ''Geophagus diamantinensis'', a new species of the ''G. brasiliensis'' species group from Chapada Diamantina, north-eastern Brazil (Cichlidae: Geophagini). ''Ichthyological Explorations of Freshwaters, 26 (3): 209-220.'' They are found in a wide range of freshwater habitats. They are part of a group popularly known as
eartheater Geophagini is a Tribe (biology), tribe of cichlids from the subfamily Cichlinae, the American cichlids. It is the sister taxon to the clade which includes the Cichlasomatini and Heroini. Fishes in the Geophagini are distributed from Panama south ...
s and mostly feed by picking up mouthfuls of sediment to sift out food items such as invertebrates, plant material and
detritus In biology, detritus () is dead particulate organic material, as distinguished from dissolved organic material. Detritus typically includes the bodies or fragments of bodies of dead organisms, and fecal material. Detritus typically hosts commun ...
. The largest species reach up to in
standard length Fish measurement is the measuring of individual fish and various parts of their anatomies. These data are used in many areas of ichthyology, including taxonomy and fisheries biology. Overall length * Standard length (SL) is the length of a fish m ...
. They are often kept in aquariums.


As an invasive species

Geophagus Surinamensis was an invasive species in Malaysia, recently found in
Putrajaya Putrajaya (), officially the Federal Territory of Putrajaya ( ms, Wilayah Persekutuan Putrajaya), is a planned capital city which functions as the administrative capital and the judicial capital of Malaysia. The seat of the federal government ...
, the populations are now controlled by
giant snakehead ''Channa micropeltes'', giant snakehead, giant mudfish or toman harimau, is among the largest species in the family Channidae, capable of growing to in length and a weight of . It is native to the fresh waters of Southeast Asia (South Indian popu ...
s.


Taxonomy

Some cichlids previously included in this genus have been reallocated to ''
Biotodoma ''Biotodoma'' is a small genus of cichlids native to rivers in the Amazon, Orinoco and Essequibo basins in South America South America is a continent entirely in the Western Hemisphere and mostly in the Southern Hemisphere, with a ...
'', ''
Gymnogeophagus ''Gymnogeophagus'' is a genus of cichlid fishes from South America, where they are known from various river basins (notably Rio de la Plata and Lagoa dos Patos– Mirim) in southern Brazil, Paraguay, Uruguay and northern Argentina. They are part ...
'' or ''
Satanoperca ''Satanoperca'' is a small genus of cichlids from South America, where they are known from the Orinoco, Essequibo, Nickerie, Amazon and Paraná–Paraguay river basins. They are mainly found in areas with slow-moving waters, but some species h ...
''. Even with these as separate genera, ''Geophagus'' is currently
polyphyletic A polyphyletic group is an assemblage of organisms or other evolving elements that is of mixed evolutionary origin. The term is often applied to groups that share similar features known as homoplasies, which are explained as a result of converg ...
and in need of further
taxonomic Taxonomy is the practice and science of categorization or classification. A taxonomy (or taxonomical classification) is a scheme of classification, especially a hierarchical classification, in which things are organized into groups or types. ...
revision. There are three main groups: * ''Geophagus
sensu stricto ''Sensu'' is a Latin word meaning "in the sense of". It is used in a number of fields including biology, geology, linguistics, semiotics, and law. Commonly it refers to how strictly or loosely an expression is used in describing any particular co ...
'' are mostly relatively peaceful, often have long fin extensions and are native to the
Amazon Amazon most often refers to: * Amazons, a tribe of female warriors in Greek mythology * Amazon rainforest, a rainforest covering most of the Amazon basin * Amazon River, in South America * Amazon (company), an American multinational technology c ...
,
Orinoco The Orinoco () is one of the longest rivers in South America at . Its drainage basin, sometimes known as the Orinoquia, covers , with 76.3 percent of it in Venezuela and the remainder in Colombia. It is the fourth largest river in the wor ...
and
Parnaíba Parnaíba () is a city in the Brazilian state of Piauí. Having a population of over 150,000 inhabitants according to IBGE's 2020 report, it is the second most populous city in the state, after the capital Teresina. It is one of the four coastal ...
basins, as well as rivers of the
Guianas The Guianas, sometimes called by the Spanish loan-word ''Guayanas'' (''Las Guayanas''), is a region in north-eastern South America which includes the following three territories: * French Guiana, an overseas department and region of France * ...
. This group can be divided into two subgroups: The first is the ''G. surinamensis''
complex Complex commonly refers to: * Complexity, the behaviour of a system whose components interact in multiple ways so possible interactions are difficult to describe ** Complex system, a system composed of many components which may interact with each ...
, which includes most species (fish in the aquarium trade often are identified as ''G. surinamensis'' itself, but they are typically other members of this complex.) The second subgroup contains ''G. argyrostictus'', ''G. gottwaldi'', ''G. grammepareius'', ''G. harreri'' and ''G. taeniopareius'', which are somewhat less peaceful and can be separated from the ''G. surinamensis'' complex by their dark stripe below the eye (however, this feature is shared with the next group). * ''G. brasiliensis'' complex (including ''G. diamantinensis'', ''G. iporangensis'', ''G. itapicuruensis'', ''G. multiocellus'', ''G. obscurus'', ''G. rufomarginatus'' and ''G. santosi'') are more robust and aggressive species found in river basins of eastern and southeastern Brazil, Uruguay and northeastern Argentina. * ''G. steindachneri'' complex (including ''G. crassilabris'' and ''G. pellegrini'' and undescribed species entering the aquarium trade from Colombia) found west of the
Andes The Andes, Andes Mountains or Andean Mountains (; ) are the longest continental mountain range in the world, forming a continuous highland along the western edge of South America. The range is long, wide (widest between 18°S – 20°S ...
in northern and western Colombia, northwestern Venezuela and Panama where adult males develop a distinct, bulbous red forehead.


Species

There are currently 32 recognized species in this genus. Additionally, plus the species already described in 2022 that are know
The new species of Geophagus naming a cichlid species in 2022
* ''
Geophagus abalios ''Geophagus'' is a genus of cichlids that mainly live in South America as far south as Argentina and Uruguay, but a single species, ''G. crassilabris'' is from Panama.Mattos, J.L.O., Costa, W.J.E.M. & Santos, A.C.A. (2015): ''Geophagus diamanti ...
'' López-Fernández & Taphorn, 2004 * ''
Geophagus altifrons ''Geophagus altifrons'' is a freshwater eartheater cichlid fish native to the Amazon River Basin, Brazil. Introduced to Singapore, it thrives in slow-moving streams and reservoirs. Its ecological impact on its adopted habitat In ecol ...
'' Heckel, 1840 * ''
Geophagus argyrostictus ''Geophagus'' is a genus of cichlids that mainly live in South America as far south as Argentina and Uruguay, but a single species, ''G. crassilabris'' is from Panama.Mattos, J.L.O., Costa, W.J.E.M. & Santos, A.C.A. (2015): ''Geophagus diamanti ...
'' S. O. Kullander, 1991 * ''
Geophagus brachybranchus ''Geophagus'' is a genus of cichlids that mainly live in South America as far south as Argentina and Uruguay, but a single species, ''G. crassilabris'' is from Panama.Mattos, J.L.O., Costa, W.J.E.M. & Santos, A.C.A. (2015): ''Geophagus diamanti ...
'' S. O. Kullander & Nijssen, 1989 * ''
Geophagus brasiliensis The pearl cichlid (''Geophagus brasiliensis'') is a species of fish in the cichlid family. It is native to southeastern Brazil (north to Bahia), Paraguay, Uruguay and far northeastern Argentina,Mattos, J.L.O., Costa, W.J.E.M. & Santos, A.C.A. (2 ...
'' ( Quoy &
Gaimard Joseph Paul Gaimard (31 January 1793 – 10 December 1858) was a French naval surgeon and naturalist. Biography Gaimard was born at Saint-Zacharie on January 31, 1793. He studied medicine at the naval medical school in Toulon, subsequent ...
, 1824)
(Pearl cichlid) * '' Geophagus brokopondo'' S. O. Kullander & Nijssen, 1989 * '' Geophagus camopiensis'' Pellegrin, 1903 (Oyapock eartheater) * '' Geophagus crassilabris''
Steindachner Franz Steindachner (11 November 1834 in Vienna – 10 December 1919 in Vienna) was an Austrian zoologist, ichthyologist, and herpetologist. He published over 200 papers on fishes and over 50 papers on reptiles and amphibians. Steindachner describ ...
, 1876
(Panamanian eartheater) * ''
Geophagus crocatus ''Geophagus'' is a genus of cichlids that mainly live in South America as far south as Argentina and Uruguay, but a single species, ''G. crassilabris'' is from Panama.Mattos, J.L.O., Costa, W.J.E.M. & Santos, A.C.A. (2015): ''Geophagus diamanti ...
''
Hauser Hauser is a German-language surname. Notable people with the surname include: * Arnold George Hauser (1888–1966), American baseball player * Arnold Hauser (art historian) (1892–1978), Hungarian art historian * Bodo Hauser (1946–2004), Germa ...
& López-Fernández, 2013
Hauser, F.E. & López-Fernández, H. (2013): ''Geophagus crocatus'', a new species of geophagine cichlid from the Berbice River, Guyana, South America (Teleostei: Cichlidae). ''Zootaxa, 3731 (2): 279–286.'' * ''
Geophagus diamantinensis ''Geophagus'' is a genus of cichlids that mainly live in South America as far south as Argentina and Uruguay, but a single species, ''G. crassilabris'' is from Panama.Mattos, J.L.O., Costa, W.J.E.M. & Santos, A.C.A. (2015): ''Geophagus diamanti ...
'' Mattos, W. J. E. M. Costa & A. C. A. Santos, 2015 * '' Geophagus dicrozoster'' López-Fernández & Taphorn, 2004 * '' Geophagus gottwaldi'' I. Schindler & Staeck, 2006Schindler, I. & Staeck, W. (2006): ''Geophagus gottwaldi'' sp. n. - a new species of cichlid fish (Teleostei: Perciformes: Cichlidae) from the drainage of the upper rio Orinoco in Venezuela. ''Zoologische Abhandlungen (Dresden), 56: 91-97.'' * '' Geophagus grammepareius'' S. O. Kullander & Taphorn, 1992 * ''
Geophagus harreri ''Geophagus'' is a genus of cichlids that mainly live in South America as far south as Argentina and Uruguay, but a single species, ''G. crassilabris'' is from Panama.Mattos, J.L.O., Costa, W.J.E.M. & Santos, A.C.A. (2015): ''Geophagus diamanti ...
'' J. P. Gosse, 1976 (Maroni eartheater) * ''
Geophagus iporangensis ''Geophagus'' is a genus of cichlids that mainly live in South America as far south as Argentina and Uruguay, but a single species, ''G. crassilabris'' is from Panama.Mattos, J.L.O., Costa, W.J.E.M. & Santos, A.C.A. (2015): ''Geophagus diamanti ...
'' Haseman, 1911 * '' Geophagus itapicuruensis'' Haseman, 1911 * '' Geophagus megasema'' Heckel, 1840 * ''
Geophagus mirabilis ''Geophagus'' is a genus of cichlids that mainly live in South America as far south as Argentina and Uruguay, but a single species, ''G. crassilabris'' is from Panama.Mattos, J.L.O., Costa, W.J.E.M. & Santos, A.C.A. (2015): ''Geophagus diamanti ...
'' Deprá, S. O. Kullander, Pavanelli & da Graça, 2014 * '' Geophagus multiocellus'' Mattos & W. J. E. M. Costa, 2018 * '' Geophagus neambi'' P. H. L. Lucinda, C. A. S. de Lucena &
Assis Assis is a city and a municipality in the southwestern part of the state of São Paulo (state), São Paulo in Brazil. The population is 105,087 (2020 est.) in an area of 460.61 km. The town was founded on July 5, 1905, and became a municipali ...
, 2010
* ''
Geophagus obscurus ''Geophagus'' is a genus of cichlids that mainly live in South America as far south as Argentina and Uruguay, but a single species, ''G. crassilabris'' is from Panama.Mattos, J.L.O., Costa, W.J.E.M. & Santos, A.C.A. (2015): ''Geophagus diamanti ...
'' ( Castelnau, 1855) * '' Geophagus parnaibae'' Staeck & I. Schindler, 2006Staeck, W. & Schindler, I. (2006): ''Geophagus parnaibae'' sp. n. - a new species of cichlid fish (Teleostei: Perciformes: Cichlidae) from the rio Parnaiba basin, Brazil. ''Zoologische Abhandlungen (Dresden), 55: 69-75.'' * ''
Geophagus pellegrini ''Geophagus'' is a genus of cichlids that mainly live in South America as far south as Argentina and Uruguay, but a single species, ''G. crassilabris'' is from Panama.Mattos, J.L.O., Costa, W.J.E.M. & Santos, A.C.A. (2015): ''Geophagus diamantin ...
''
Regan The family name Regan, along with its cognates O'Regan, O Regan, Reagan, and O'Reagan, is an Anglicized form of the Irish surname Ó Riagáin or Ó Ríogáin, from Ua Riagáin. The meaning is likely to have originated in ancient Gaelic ''ri'' ...
, 1912
(Yellowhump eartheater) * ''
Geophagus proximus ''Geophagus'' is a genus of cichlids that mainly live in South America as far south as Argentina and Uruguay, but a single species, ''G. crassilabris'' is from Panama.Mattos, J.L.O., Costa, W.J.E.M. & Santos, A.C.A. (2015): ''Geophagus diamanti ...
'' ( Castelnau, 1855) * ''Geophagus pyrocephalus'' * '' Geophagus rufomarginatus'' Mattos & W. J. E. M. Costa, 2018 * '' Geophagus santosi'' Mattos & W. J. E. M. Costa, 2018 * ''
Geophagus steindachneri The redhump eartheater ('Geophagus steindachneri') is a species of eartheater cichlid from freshwater habitats in northwestern South America.Geophagus steindachneri'. FishBase. Agustin, L., Kullander, S., & Torres, A. (2001-2008). Distributi ...
'' C. H. Eigenmann &
Hildebrand Hildebrand is a character from Germanic heroic legend. ''Hildebrand'' is the modern German form of the name: in Old High German it is ''Hiltibrant'' and in Old Norse ''Hildibrandr''. The word ''hild'' means "battle" and ''brand'' means "sword". ...
, 1922
(Redhump eartheater) * ''
Geophagus surinamensis ''Geophagus'' is a genus of cichlids that mainly live in South America as far south as Argentina and Uruguay, but a single species, ''G. crassilabris'' is from Panama.Mattos, J.L.O., Costa, W.J.E.M. & Santos, A.C.A. (2015): ''Geophagus diamanti ...
'' (
Bloch Bloch is a surname of German origin. Notable people with this surname include: A–F * (1859-1914), French rabbi *Adele Bloch-Bauer (1881-1925), Austrian entrepreneur *Albert Bloch (1882–1961), American painter * (born 1972), German motor journal ...
, 1791)
(Red-striped eartheater) * '' Geophagus sveni'' P. H. F. Lucinda, C. A. S. de Lucena &
Assis Assis is a city and a municipality in the southwestern part of the state of São Paulo (state), São Paulo in Brazil. The population is 105,087 (2020 est.) in an area of 460.61 km. The town was founded on July 5, 1905, and became a municipali ...
, 2010
* ''
Geophagus taeniopareius ''Geophagus'' is a genus of cichlids that mainly live in South America as far south as Argentina and Uruguay, but a single species, ''G. crassilabris'' is from Panama.Mattos, J.L.O., Costa, W.J.E.M. & Santos, A.C.A. (2015): ''Geophagus diamantin ...
'' S. O. Kullander & Royero-L., 1992 * '' Geophagus winemilleri'' López-Fernández & Taphorn, 2004


References

{{Taxonbar, from=Q1754747 Geophagini Cichlid fish of South America Cichlid genera Taxa named by Johann Jakob Heckel