Teleostei (teleosts) >
Cichliformes (Cichlids, convict blennies) >
Cichlidae (Cichlids) > Geophaginae
Etymology: Geophagus: Greek, gea = the earth + Greek, phagein = to eat (Ref. 45335).
More on authors: Eigenmann & Hildebrand.
Issue
Gosse & Kullander (1981) clarified the nomenclature of the species.
Environment: milieu / climate zone / depth range / distribution range
Ecology
Freshwater; benthopelagic; pH range: 6.5 - 7.0; dH range: 5 - 15. Tropical; 24°C - 26°C (Ref. 1672)
South America: Magdalena, Cauca and Sinú River basins in Colombia; Limón River (Lake Maracaibo drainage) in Venezuela.
Size / Weight / Age
Maturity: Lm ?  range ? - ? cm
Max length : 19.8 cm TL male/unsexed; (Ref. 36377); max. published weight: 128.00 g (Ref. 125980)
Similar to Aequidens except for the presence of a lobule on the first branchial arch and the protuberance on the head of male specimens.
Life cycle and mating behavior
Maturities | Reproduction | Spawnings | Egg(s) | Fecundities | Larvae
Very little is known of the breeding habits of this peaceful species (Ref. 12251).
Kullander, S.O., 2003. Cichlidae (Cichlids). p. 605-654. In R.E. Reis, S.O. Kullander and C.J. Ferraris, Jr. (eds.) Checklist of the Freshwater Fishes of South and Central America. Porto Alegre: EDIPUCRS, Brasil. (Ref. 36377)
IUCN Red List Status (Ref. 130435)
Threat to humans
Harmless
Human uses
Fisheries: commercial; aquarium: commercial
Tools
Special reports
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Internet sources
Estimates based on models
Phylogenetic diversity index (Ref.
82804): PD
50 = 0.5000 [Uniqueness, from 0.5 = low to 2.0 = high].
Bayesian length-weight: a=0.01950 (0.00850 - 0.04473), b=3.01 (2.83 - 3.19), in cm total length, based on LWR estimates for this Genus-body shape (Ref.
93245).
Trophic level (Ref.
69278): 2.0 ±0.00 se; based on food items.
Resilience (Ref.
120179): High, minimum population doubling time less than 15 months (Preliminary K or Fecundity.).
Fishing Vulnerability (Ref.
59153): Low vulnerability (10 of 100).