''Cichlasoma'' is a

genus Genus ( plural genera ) is a taxonomic rank used in the biological classification of living and fossil organisms as well as viruses. In the hierarchy of biological classification, genus comes above species and below family. In binomial nom ...

freshwater fish Freshwater fish are those that spend some or all of their lives in fresh water, such as rivers and lakes, with a salinity of less than 1.05%. These environments differ from marine conditions in many ways, especially the difference in levels of ...

in the cichlid family. The genus was previously very large (a

wastebasket taxon Wastebasket taxon (also called a wastebin taxon, dustbin taxon or catch-all taxon) is a term used by some taxonomists to refer to a taxon that has the sole purpose of classifying organisms that do not fit anywhere else. They are typically defined ...

), including cichlids from North America, including Central America, and South America. Reclassification and subsequent splitting of the genus by

Sven O. Kullander Sven Oscar Kullander (born 30 November 1952 in Sollefteå) is a Swedish biologist specialised in ichthyology. He primarily researches cichlids – notably the genus ''Apistogramma'' and the ''Cichlasoma''-complex – and other tropical fresh ...

and other

ichthyologists Ichthyology is the branch of zoology devoted to the study of fish, including bony fish (Osteichthyes), cartilaginous fish (Chondrichthyes), and jawless fish (Agnatha). According to FishBase, 33,400 species of fish had been described as of October ...

has resulted in removing many of the former

species In biology, a species is the basic unit of classification and a taxonomic rank of an organism, as well as a unit of biodiversity. A species is often defined as the largest group of organisms in which any two individuals of the appropriate s ...

from ''Cichlasoma'' to genera such as ''

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 ...

'', '' Archocentrus'', ''

Herichthys ''Herichthys'' is a small genus of cichlid fishes. Most are Endemism, endemic to Mexico, but ''Texas cichlid, H. cyanoguttatus'' is also found in southern Texas (United States), and has been Introduced species, introduced to central Texas and Flo ...

'', '' Heros'', '' Nandopsis'', ''

Parachromis ''Parachromis'' is a genus of cichlids native to Central America. Some species occur in Lake Nicaragua and Lake Managua. All species are predatory and relatively large for cichlids. Species There are currently five recognized species in this gen ...

'', '' Thorichthys'', '' Vieja'' and others in the tribe Heroini.

Species

According to FishBase, there are currently sixteen recognized species in this genus, but three very different Middle American

taxa In biology, a taxon (back-formation from ''taxonomy''; plural taxa) is a group of one or more populations of an organism or organisms seen by taxonomists to form a unit. Although neither is required, a taxon is usually known by a particular nam ...

("''C.''"'' geddesi'' a synonym of ''

Herichthys deppii ''Herichthys deppii'', also known as the Nautla cichlid, is a species of cichlid native to the Nautla and Misantla rivers of Mexico. It reaches a maximum size of TL. The specific name honours the German naturalist, explorer and painter ...

'', and "''C.''"'' istlanum'' and "''C.''"'' trimaculatum'' placed in ''

'') are not included by

Catalog of Fishes Catalog of Fishes is a comprehensive on-line database and reference work on the scientific names of fish species and genera. It is global in its scope and is hosted by the California Academy of Sciences. It has been compiled and is continuously u ...

, effectively limiting ''Cichlasoma'' to a group of rather similar, medium-small cichlids of South America. * ''

Cichlasoma amazonarum ''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. O. Kullander, 1983 * ''

Cichlasoma araguaiense ''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. O. Kullander, 1983 * '' Cichlasoma bimaculatum'' (

Linnaeus Carl Linnaeus (; 23 May 1707 – 10 January 1778), also known after his ennoblement in 1761 as Carl von Linné Blunt (2004), p. 171. (), was a Swedish botanist, zoologist, taxonomist, and physician who formalised binomial nomenclature, the ...

, 1758) (Black acara) * ''

Cichlasoma boliviense ''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. O. Kullander, 1983 * ''

Cichlasoma dimerus ''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 ...

'' ( Heckel, 1840) * '' Cichlasoma geddesi'' ( Regan, 1905) * ''

Cichlasoma istlanum ''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 ...

'' ( D. S. Jordan & Snyder, 1899) * '' Cichlasoma orientale'' S. O. Kullander, 1983 * '' Cichlasoma orinocense'' S. O. Kullander, 1983 * '' Cichlasoma paranaense'' S. O. Kullander, 1983 * '' Cichlasoma portalegrense'' ( R. F. Hensel, 1870) * '' Cichlasoma pusillum'' S. O. Kullander, 1983 * ''

Cichlasoma santifranciscense ''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 ...

'' S. O. Kullander, 1983 * '' Cichlasoma taenia'' ( E. T. Bennett, 1831) (Brown coscarob) * ''

Cichlasoma trimaculatum The three spot cichlid (''Cichlasoma trimaculatum''), also known as the trimac or red-eyed cichlid, is a species of cichlid from Mexico and Central America, from the subfamily Cichlasomatinae. It is a rarely found as an aquarium fish. Although st ...

'' ( Günther, 1867) (Three spot cichlid) * '' Cichlasoma zarskei'' Ottoni, 2011

References

Cichlasomatini Cichlid fish of Central America Cichlid fish of North America Freshwater fish of Mexico Cichlid genera Taxa named by William John Swainson {{Cichlidae-stub