Stats

Lifespan

10-15 yrs

Size

Small

Diet

Omnivore

Activity

Diurnal

Social

Pair

Biome

Freshwater wetland

Range

Central America

Movement

Swimming

Breeding

Egg-laying

Defense

Warning Colors

Status

Rare

About

This cichlid inhabits the slow-moving rivers of the Yucatán Peninsula. It flares its bright red throat gills to mimic a much larger predator when threatened.

Life cycle

1. 1.
   hatchling fry

   A tiny fry hatches with a yolk sac and begins free-swimming once the sac is absorbed.
2. 2.
   juvenile

   A juvenile takes on adult body shape and feeds on small prey, often in nursery waters.
3. 3.
   adult

   Fully grown at adult size and coloration.

Learn more

• View on iNaturalist →

Taxonomy

Kingdom

Animalia

Phylum

Chordata

Class

Actinopterygii

Order

Cichliformes

Family

Cichlidae

Genus

Thorichthys

Species

Thorichthys meeki