Salvin's cichlid

{{Short description|Species of fish}} {{more citations needed|date=March 2009}} {{Speciesbox | image = salvini4a.jpg | image2 = salpui3.jpg | image2_caption = male above, female with fry below | status = LC | status_system = IUCN3.1 | status_ref = <ref>{{cite iucn |author=Schmitter-Soto, J. |year=2019 |title=''Trichromis salvini'' |volume=2019 |article-number=e.T192886A2179647 |doi=10.2305/IUCN.UK.2019-2.RLTS.T192886A2179647.en |access-date=22 August 2024}}</ref> | parent_authority = McMahan & Chakrabarty, 2015 <ref name=Mahan2015/> | taxon = Trichromis salvini | display_parents = 3 | authority = (Günther, 1862) | synonyms = '''<small>Species synonymy</small>''' {{Species list | Cichlasoma salvini | (Günther, 1862) | Cichlasoma tenue | Meek, 1906 | Heros triagramma | Steindachner, 1864 | Heros salvini | Günther, 1862 }} | synonyms_ref = <ref>{{Catalogue of Life|id=58M6S|title=''Trichromis salvini''|access-date=18 August 2024}}</ref> }}

The '''Salvin's cichlid''' ('''''Trichromis salvini'''''), also known as the '''yellow-belly cichlid''' or '''tricolored cichlid''', is a species of the family Cichlidae. It is found in rivers of the Atlantic slope of southern Mexico, Belize, and Guatemala.<ref name=Mahan2015>{{cite journal | author = McMahan, C.D. | author2 = Matamoros, W.A. | author3 = Piller, K.R. | author4 = Chakrabarty, P. | name-list-style = amp | year = 2015 | title = Taxonomy and systematics of the herichthyins (Cichlidae: Tribe Heroini), with the description of eight new Middle American Genera | journal = Zootaxa | volume = 3999 | issue = 2 | pages = 211–234 | url = http://www.mapress.com/zootaxa/2015/f/zt03999p234.pdf | doi=10.11646/zootaxa.3999.2.3 | pmid=26623572}}</ref> It is the only species in the genus '''''Trichromis'''''.<ref>{{Catalogue of Life|id=7ZRF|title=''Trichromis''|access-date=18 August 2024}}</ref>

==Taxonomy== In 2015, McMahan ''et al.'' published a paper placing this species in the genus ''Trichromis''.<ref name=Mahan2015/> The relationship of Salvin's cichlid to other Central American cichlid had long been debated.<ref name=rican/> Genetic research by Říčan ''et al.'' revealed that the closest relatives to ''Trichromis'' are the firemouth cichlid and its congeners in the genus ''Thorichthys''.<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|doi=10.3897/vz.66.e31534 |doi-access=free |url=http://www.senckenberg.de/files/content/forschung/publikationen/vertebratezoology/vz66-1/01_vertebrate_zoology_66-1_rican_1-102.pdf|access-date=2019-01-25}}</ref>

==Description== The Salvin's cichlid is oblong in shape and has a rather pointed mouth compared to other Central American cichlids. The body is yellow with two lines of black "flowers" along the side and upper half of the back of the fish. These flowers have a blue pearl outline. It has black bars that cross the face, and both sexes have red bellies, which is more pronounced in females, especially when ready to spawn. Females also have a patch in the center of the dorsal fin and a spot on the lower part of the gill cover. Females are smaller than males. Males are duller in color and have longer, more pointed fins. Both male and female become more vibrant during breeding.

== Distribution == Salvin's cichlid is found along the eastern coastal rivers and lagoons at lower elevations of Central America, from Mexico south to Honduras. This species is introduced in South Florida.<ref name=USGSIntroduced>{{cite web | author1=Leo Nico | author2=Matt Neilson | author3=Bill Loftus | year=2018 | url=https://nas.er.usgs.gov/queries/factsheet.aspx?SpeciesID=449 |title=''Cichlasoma salvini'' (Günther, 1862) | publisher=U.S. Geological Survey, Nonindigenous Aquatic Species Database, Gainesville, FL |access-date=25 May 2018 }}</ref> The species prefers moderate to fast flowing currents.

==Dietary habits==

Salvin's cichlid is a piscivore.<ref name=rican/> It uses slight jaw protrusion to exploit prey located near riverbeds. Their 8.2% jaw protrusion only allows them to consume 48% of evasive prey.<ref>{{cite journal | author = Hulsey C.D. | author2 = De Leon Garcia | year = 2005 | title = Cichlid jaw mechanics: Linking morphology to feeding specialization | journal = Functional Ecology | volume = 19 | issue = 3| pages = 487–494 | doi=10.1111/j.1365-2435.2005.00987.x| doi-access = free | bibcode = 2005FuEco..19..487H }}</ref>

==Reproduction== The female takes a more active role in initiating breeding and caring for fry than the male.<ref name=rican/>

== Aquarium specimens ==

=== Care requirements ===

Salvin's cichlid is a very hardy fish, preferring temperatures between {{convert|22|-|27|C|F}}. They prefer a higher pH of around 8.0, and require the space of at least a {{convert|150|L}} tank. They grow to approximately {{convert|15|cm}} in length and are quite aggressive toward other fish, but moderate aggressive towards same species. They require rocks and logs to hide in, and open swimming space.

=== Feeding ===

Salvin's cichlid accepts a wide variety of foods.

==References== {{Reflist}}

Category:Heroini Category:Fish described in 1862 Category:Taxa named by Albert Günther Category:Cichlid fish of Central America Category:Fish of Belize Category:Fish of Guatemala Category:Freshwater fish of Mexico