''Laetacara'' is a small
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
cichlids native to freshwater
habitat
In ecology, the term habitat summarises the array of resources, physical and biotic factors that are present in an area, such as to support the survival and reproduction of a particular species. A species habitat can be seen as the physical ...
s in tropical and subtropical
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 ...
, ranging from the upper
Orinoco River basin in
Venezuela
Venezuela (; ), officially the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela ( es, link=no, República Bolivariana de Venezuela), is a country on the northern coast of South America, consisting of a continental landmass and many islands and islets in th ...
to the
Paraná River
The Paraná River ( es, Río Paraná, links=no , pt, Rio Paraná, gn, Ysyry Parana) is a river in south-central South America, running through Brazil, Paraguay, and Argentina for some ."Parana River". Encyclopædia Britannica. Encyclopædia Br ...
basin
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 ...
.
[Linke H, Staeck L (1994) ''American cichlids I: Dwarf Cichlids. A handbook for their identification, care and breeding.'' Tetra Press. Germany. ] The genus is also collectively known as the smiling acaras.
Like all cichlids, ''Laetacara'' species have well-developed brood care.
All members of the genus are
monogamous
Monogamy ( ) is a form of Dyad (sociology), dyadic Intimate relationship, relationship in which an individual has only one Significant other, partner during their lifetime. Alternately, only one partner at any one time (Monogamy#Serial monogamy, ...
, open spawning cichlids.
They are popular in the
fishkeeping hobby and are frequently kept in
aquarium
An aquarium (plural: ''aquariums'' or ''aquaria'') is a vivarium of any size having at least one transparent side in which aquatic plants or animals are kept and displayed. Fishkeepers use aquaria to keep fish, invertebrates, amphibians, aq ...
s.
''Laetacara'' are relatively small cichlids, growing to about in length depending on exact species,
[ and are part of the group known to aquarists as ]dwarf cichlid
Dwarf cichlid is a term used by fishkeeping hobbyists to describe an arbitrary assemblage of small-sized fish from the family Cichlidae. Although the grouping is widely used in the aquarium industry and hobby, the grouping has no taxonomic or eco ...
s.
Species
There are currently seven recognized species in this genus:Laetacara araguaiae
''Laetacara'' is a small genus of cichlids native to freshwater habitats in tropical and subtropical South America, ranging from the upper Orinoco River basin in Venezuela to the Paraná River basin Argentina.Linke H, Staeck L (1994) ''American ...
'' Ottoni & W. J. E. M. Costa, 2009
* '' Laetacara curviceps'' ( C. G. E. Ahl, 1923) (Flag acara)
* '' Laetacara dorsigera'' ( Heckel, 1840) (Redbreast acara)
* '' Laetacara flamannellus'' Ottoni et al., 2012
* '' Laetacara flavilabris'' ( Cope, 1870)
* '' Laetacara fulvipinnis'' Staeck & I. Schindler, 2007
* '' Laetacara thayeri'' (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 ...
, 1875)
See also
*List of freshwater aquarium fish species
A vast number of aquatic species have successfully adapted to live in the freshwater aquarium. This list gives some examples of the most common species found in home aquariums.
Catfish
Characins and other characiformes
...
References
Cichlasomatini
Fish of South America
Cichlid genera
Taxa named by Sven O. Kullander
{{Cichlidae-stub