{{Short description|Species of fish}} {{Speciesbox | image = Neetroplus_nematopus.png | image_caption = Breeding (left) and normal colouration (right). | status = NT | status_system = IUCN3.1 | status_ref = <ref name="iucn">{{cite iucn |author=Lyons, T.J. |year=2020 |title=''Neetroplus nematopus'' |volume=2020 |article-number=e.T152306251A152306348 |doi=10.2305/IUCN.UK.2020-2.RLTS.T152306251A152306348.en |access-date=1 November 2022}}</ref> | genus = Neetroplus | species = nematopus | authority = (Günther, 1867) | synonyms = *''Neetroplus nematopus'' <small>Günther, 1867</small> *''Neetroplus nicaraguensis'' <small>T.N. Gill, 1877</small> *''Neetroplus fluviatilis'' <small>Meek, 1912</small> | synonyms_ref = <ref name = FishBase>{{FishBase|Hypsophrys|nematopus|month=June|year=2018}}</ref> }}
The '''poor man's tropheus''' (''Neetroplus nematopus'') is a species of fish in the family Cichlidae. Until 2007 it was the only species in the genus '''''Neetroplus''''', but at that time it was reclassified into the genus ''Hypsophrys''.<ref name="pfk">{{cite web|url=http://www.practicalfishkeeping.co.uk/pfk/pages/item.php?news=1399|title=Convict and Jack Dempsey placed in new genera|access-date=2008-06-27 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20071228234519/http://www.practicalfishkeeping.co.uk/pfk/pages/item.php?news=1399 <!-- Bot retrieved archive --> |archive-date = 2007-12-28}}</ref> In 2016 it was restored to the genus ''Neetroplus'' based on genetic research by Říčan, et al.<ref name=rican>{{cite journal|title=Diversity and evolution of the Middle American cichlid fishes (Teleostei: Cichlidae) with revised classification|author=Říčan, O.|author2=Piálek, L.|author3=Dragová, K.|author4=Novák, J.|name-list-style=amp|journal=Vertebrate Zoology|pages=1–102|volume=66|issue=1|year=2016|url=https://www.senckenberg.de/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/01_vertebrate_zoology_66-1_rican_1-102.pdf|access-date=2019-01-25}}</ref> Its name comes from having similar diet, behavior, and body shape to the tropheus.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Borstein |first1=Sam |title=Neetroplus nematopus - Sam Borstein's Cichlids |url=http://www.borstein.info/profiles/central/neets.html |website=borstein.info |access-date=13 April 2024 |ref=6}}</ref>
It is a small-medium-sized cichlid growing to a length of {{cvt|12|cm}}. It occurs in Central America in Lake Xiloá, Lake Managua, Lake Masaya and Lake Nicaragua and in riverine habitats on the Atlantic coasts of Costa Rica and Nicaragua. Like most Central American cichlids the species is commonly found in hard, alkaline (pH 7.5) water. Its diet consists of algae and plant material which it scrapes from rocks and other hard surfaces in a fashion similar to algal grazing cichlids of Lake Malawi in Africa. Some populations are reportedly involved in cleaning other fish of parasites. It also eats chironomid larvae, and is more efficient at winnowing through soft sediment on the river-bed than might be expected from the shape of its snout, moving large quantities of sand with its mouth and sweeping sand away with its fins and tail.<ref name=Arbour>{{cite journal |author1=López-Fernández, Hernán |author2=Arbour, Jessica |author3=Willis, Stuart |author4=Watkins, Crystal |author5=Honeycutt, Rodney L. |author6=Winemiller, Kirk O. |year=2014 |title=Morphology and Efficiency of a Specialized Foraging Behavior, Sediment Sifting, in Neotropical Cichlid Fishes |journal=PLOS ONE |doi=10.1371/journal.pone.0089832 |volume=9 |issue=3 |article-number=e89832 |pmid=24603485 |pmc=3945966|bibcode=2014PLoSO...989832L |doi-access=free }}</ref>
It uses the same skills when excavating a hole for its nest.<ref name=Arbour/> Like all cichlids, brood care is highly developed with both parents involved in fry raising. Colouration changes dramatically (see pictures) while breeding.
==References== {{Reflist}}
==External links== * {{FishBase genus | genus = Hypsophrys | month = May | year = 2019}} * {{FishBase | genus = Hypsophrys | species = nematopus | month = May | year = 2019}}
{{Taxonbar|from=Q2703715}}
Category:Cichlid fish of Central America Category:Freshwater fish of Nicaragua Category:Fish of Lake Nicaragua Category:Fish described in 1867 Category:Taxa named by Albert Günther Category:Heroini