''Vieja'' 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 ...
fish from Central America and Mexico. The majority of the species are freshwater fish found in stagnant or slow-moving waters of southern Mexico to
El Salvador
El Salvador (; , meaning " The Saviour"), officially the Republic of El Salvador ( es, República de El Salvador), is a country in Central America. It is bordered on the northeast by Honduras, on the northwest by Guatemala, and on the south b ...
, but ''V. maculicauda'', which also occurs in
brackish water
Brackish water, sometimes termed brack water, is water occurring in a natural environment that has more salinity than freshwater, but not as much as seawater. It may result from mixing seawater (salt water) and fresh water together, as in estua ...
s, ranges south to
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 ...
.
They are high-bodied cichlids that reach lengths of up to depending on the exact species.
''Vieja'' feed mostly on vegetable matter, but may also take small invertebrates.
[
]
Taxonomy and species
Historically, ''Vieja'' was included in ''Cichlasoma
''Cichlasoma'' is a genus of freshwater fish in the cichlid family. The genus was previously very large (a wastebasket taxon), including cichlids from North America, including Central America, and South America.
Reclassification and subsequent s ...
''. Once recognized as its own genus, it sometimes included most of the superficially similar, relatively large and high-bodied cichlids of Central America and southern Mexico, but several of these are now considered to belong to separate genera: '' Chuco'', ''Cincelichthys
''Cincelichthys'' is a genus of high-bodied cichlids found in southern Mexico to Guatemala
Guatemala ( ; ), officially the Republic of Guatemala ( es, República de Guatemala, links=no), is a country in Central America. It is bordered to ...
'', '' Isthmoheros'', ''Kihnichthys
''Kihnichthys ufermanni'', the Usumacinta cichlid, is a species of cichlid found in a few rivers in the Usumacinta River basin in Guatemala and southern Mexico. It typically occurs in rivers that are about wide, fairly deep, have few or no aq ...
'', ''Maskaheros
''Maskaheros'' is a genus of cichlids fish found on Atlantic slope of southern Mexico and Guatemala in the Coatzacoalcos and Usumacinta River
The Usumacinta River (; named after the howler monkey) is a river in southeastern Mexico and no ...
'' and '' Oscura'' (''Oscuro'' might still be better merged with ''Vieja'', but this remains unconfirmed). Conversely, ''Vieja'' has sometimes been included in ''Paraneetroplus
''Paraneetroplus'' is a genus of cichlid fish native to moderately to fast-flowing waters in the Coatzacoalcos, Grijalva and Papaloapan river basins in southern Mexico. They reach up to in length.
Taxonomy and species
Historically, ''Paraneet ...
''.[
*'' Vieja bifasciata'' (]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 ...
, 1864) (Twoband cichlid)
*''Vieja breidohri
''Vieja'' is a genus of cichlid fish from Central America and Mexico. The majority of the species are freshwater fish found in stagnant or slow-moving waters of southern Mexico to El Salvador, but ''V. maculicauda'', which also occurs in brackis ...
'' ( U. Werner & Stawikowski, 1987) (Angostura cichlid)
*''Vieja fenestrata
''Vieja'' is a genus of cichlid fish from Central America and Mexico. The majority of the species are freshwater fish found in stagnant or slow-moving waters of southern Mexico to El Salvador, but ''V. maculicauda'', which also occurs in brack ...
'' ( Günther, 1860)
*'' Vieja guttulata'' ( Günther, 1864) (Amatitlan cichlid)
*''Vieja hartwegi
''Vieja'' is a genus of cichlid fish from Central America and Mexico. The majority of the species are freshwater fish found in stagnant or slow-moving waters of southern Mexico to El Salvador, but ''V. maculicauda'', which also occurs in brackis ...
'' ( J. N. Taylor & R. R. Miller
Robert Rush Miller (April 23, 1916 – February 10, 2003) "was an important figure in American ichthyology and conservation from 1940 to the 1990s."
He was born in Colorado Springs, earned his bachelor's degree at University of California, Berke ...
, 1980) (Tailbar cichlid)
*'' Vieja maculicauda'' (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'' ...
, 1905) (Blackbelt cichlid)
*'' Vieja melanurus'' ( Günther, 1862) (Redhead cichlid)
*''Vieja zonata
''Vieja'' is a genus of cichlid fish from Central America and Mexico. The majority of the species are freshwater fish found in stagnant or slow-moving waters of southern Mexico to El Salvador, but ''V. maculicauda'', which also occurs in brackis ...
'' (Meek
Meekness is an attribute of human nature and behavior that has been defined as an amalgam of righteousness, inner humility, and patience.
Meekness has been contrasted with humility alone insomuch as humility simply refers to an attitude towards o ...
, 1905) (Oaxaca cichlid)
In addition to these, two further species have commonly been recognized: The first is ''V. coatlicue'', but today it is usually considered the Atlantic slope population of ''V. zonata''. The second is ''V. synspilum'', in which case ''V. melanurus'' is limited to the Lake Petén system, but a review found that the supposed differences between them are invalid.
Because of individual, regional and age-related variations, definite separation of some species can be difficult. Furthermore, hybrids occur, sometimes even between a ''Vieja'' species and a species from another heroine
A hero (feminine: heroine) is a real person or a main fictional character who, in the face of danger, combats adversity through feats of ingenuity, courage, or strength. Like other formerly gender-specific terms (like ''actor''), ''hero' ...
genus. The enigmatic ''Amphilophus
''Amphilophus'' is a genus of cichlid fishes from Central America, ranging from southern Mexico to Panama. The genus currently contains 23 species, including several that are well-known from the aquarium trade. However, studies led by Oldřich ...
margaritifer'', sometimes still recognized as a valid species, is most likely a hybrid involving '' Thorichthys'' and ''Vieja''.
References
Heroini
Fish of Central America
Fish of Guatemala
Cichlid genera
{{Cichlidae-stub