Cichlasoma is a genus

Genus

In biology, a genus is a low-level taxonomic rank used in the biological classification of living and fossil organisms, which is an example of definition by genus and differentia...

 of fish

Fish

Fish are a paraphyletic group of organisms that consist of all gill-bearing aquatic vertebrate animals that lack limbs with digits. Included in this definition are the living hagfish, lampreys, and cartilaginous and bony fish, as well as various extinct related groups...

 in the cichlid

Cichlid

Cichlids are fishes from the family Cichlidae in the order Perciformes. Cichlids are members of a group known as the Labroidei along with the wrasses , damselfish , and surfperches . This family is both large and diverse. At least 1,300 species have been scientifically described, making it one of...

 family.
The genus was previously very large, including cichlids from Texas

Texas

Texas is the second largest U.S. state by both area and population, and the largest state by area in the contiguous United States.The name, based on the Caddo word "Tejas" meaning "friends" or "allies", was applied by the Spanish to the Caddo themselves and to the region of their settlement in...

, North America

North America

North America is a continent wholly within the Northern Hemisphere and almost wholly within the Western Hemisphere. It is also considered a northern subcontinent of the Americas...

, through all of Central America

Central America

Central America is the central geographic region of the Americas. It is the southernmost, isthmian portion of the North American continent, which connects with South America on the southeast. When considered part of the unified continental model, it is considered a subcontinent...

 to parts of South America

South America

South America is a continent situated in the Western Hemisphere, mostly in the Southern Hemisphere, with a relatively small portion in the Northern Hemisphere. The continent is also considered a subcontinent of the Americas. It is bordered on the west by the Pacific Ocean and on the north and east...

.

Reclassification and subsequent splitting of the genus by Sven O. Kullander

Sven O. Kullander

Sven Oscar Kullander is a Swedish biologist specialised in ichthyology.He primarily researches cichlids – notably the genus Apistogramma and the Cichlasoma-complex – and other tropical fresh water fishes....

 and other ichthyologists

Ichthyology

Ichthyology is the branch of zoology devoted to the study of fish. This includes skeletal fish , cartilaginous fish , and jawless fish...

 has resulted in many of the former species

Species

In biology, a species is one of the basic units of biological classification and a taxonomic rank. A species is often defined as a group of organisms capable of interbreeding and producing fertile offspring. While in many cases this definition is adequate, more precise or differing measures are...

 from the genus Cichlasoma now being placed within separate genera such as Amphilophus

Amphilophus

Amphilophus is a genus of cichlid fishes from Central America. The genus currently contains 23 species. However, a 2008 study led by Oldrich Rican suggested that several species within Amphilophus should be moved to the genus Astatheros. Species proposed to be moved to Astatheros are A. alfari,...

, Archocentrus

Archocentrus

Archocentrus is a small genus of cichlid fishes from Central America. The genus currently contains 3 species. It formerly included 7 of the species now included in the genus Cryptoheros, as well as the convict cichlid, now included in the genus Amatitlania. The Rainbow Cichlid, Archocentrus...

, Herichthys

Herichthys

Herichthys is a small genus of cichlid fishes. Most are endemic to Mexico, but H. cyanoguttatus is also found in southern Texas , and has been introduced to central Texas and Florida...

, Heros

Heros genus

Heros is a genus which includes several fish species in the Cichlidae family. They are native to rivers in the Amazon and Orinoco basins in South America...

, Nandopsis

Nandopsis

Nandopsis is a small genus of cichlid fishes found in lakes, streams and rivers in Cuba and Hispaniola. If disregarding Trinidad and Tobago , Nandopsis are the only cichlids native to the Antilles.-Species:The genus currently contains three species, although some...

, Parachromis

Parachromis

Parachromis is a genus of freshwater fishes from the family Cichlidae. The genus contains 5 species and is limited in its distribution to Central America. Some species occur in Lake Nicaragua and Lake Managua. All species are predatory and relatively large for cichlids.Parachromis friedrichsthalii...

, Thorichthys

Thorichthys

Thorichthys is a genus of cichlids from Central America. They have somewhat pointy heads and stripes down their body, and tend to inhabit slow-moving or standing water. The best-known species is Thorichthys meeki, the firemouth cichlid. Members of Thorichthys rarely exceed , making them popular...

, Vieja

Vieja

Vieja is a genus of fish from the family Cichlidae. The geographic distribution of the genus is limited to Central America, primarily Mexico, Guatemala and Nicaragua. In general Vieja are high bodied cichlids which grow to between 15-35 cm . There are 16 species of Vieja currently described...

and a number of others.

The genus Cichlasoma now consists of a few fish found in South America.

Species currently assigned to Cichlasoma senso stricta include

• Cichlasoma amazonarum
• Cichlasoma araguaiense
• Cichlasoma bimaculatum
  Cichlasoma bimaculatum
  Cichlasoma bimaculatum is an omnivorous, freshwater, tropical fish commonly referred to as the Black Acara or two-spot cichlid. It was also identified as Aequidens portalegrensis in 1965 and 1970. It is most frequently classified in the Cichlidae family and subfamily of Cichlasomatinae...
  
  
• Cichlasoma dimerus
• Cichlasoma orientale
• Cichlasoma orinocense
• Cichlasoma paranaense
• Cichlasoma portalegrense
• Cichlasoma pusillum
• Cichlasoma santifranciscense
• Cichlasoma taenia
• Cichlasoma tembe

Species previously designated as Cichlasoma now frequently annotated as "Cichlasoma" awaiting relocation to other genera

• Cichlasoma festae, Red terror
• Cichlasoma salvini
• Cichlasoma trimaculatum
• Cichlasoma urophthalmus, Mayan cichlid

External links

• Guide to the South American Cichlidae by Dr. Sven Kullander