Amphilophus labiatus

Amphilophus labiatus is a large cichlid fish endemic to Lake Managua and Lake Nicaragua in Central America. It is also known by the common name red devil cichlid, which it shares with another closely related cichlid, A. citrinellus.

Amphilophus labiatus
Scientific classification
Domain:	Eukaryota
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Actinopterygii
Order:	Cichliformes
Family:	Cichlidae
Genus:	Amphilophus
Species:	A. labiatus
Binomial name
Amphilophus labiatus (Günther, 1864)
Synonyms
Heros labiatus Günther, 1864 Cichlasoma labiatum (Günther, 1864) Herichthys labiatus (Günther, 1864) Amphilophus froebelii Agassiz, 1859 Heros erythraeus Günther, 1867 Heros lobochilus Günther, 1867 Cichlasoma dorsatum Meek, 1907

Amphilophus labiatum, female

Description

Colouration in wild specimens is variable and while most specimens are grey to greyish green some pink, red or white specimens do occur. Black pigmentation in spots or bands is also common. Some specimens have enlarged lips, though this condition is thought to be related to specific food choice preferences in their natural habitat as this trait disappears in captivity. Like most cichlids, A. labiatus has advanced brood care. The species form monogamous pairs which spawn on flattened rocks or logs.

Aquarium

In the aquarium trade A. labiatus is often sold under the trade name of red devil, a common name which they share with Amphilophus citrinellus, which is more correctly known as the Midas Cichlid owing to its yellow coloration. This occasionally causes confusion between customers and companies that sell both A. labiatus and Amphilophus citrinellus.

Behavior

Aquarists who keep cichlids regard red devils as aggressive fish. This aggressive behavior combined with their razor sharp teeth and powerful jaws means cohabitants should be chosen carefully and the fish should be kept in a large aquarium. Red devils may be so aggressive that they ram into the glass to get at invaders, break heaters and other aquarium equipment, and will sometimes bite their owners.

Invasive species

In Indonesia, this species was introduced as ornamental aquarium fish. This fish became a big problem in Lake Toba, threatening other species there. However, it was released to the wild and has become an invasive species, especially in the lakes of Java, Sulawesi and Papua.

See also

• List of freshwater aquarium fish species
• Fish
• Aquarium

References

• Froese, Rainer; Pauly, Daniel (eds.). "Amphilophus labiatus". FishBase. July 2006 version.