Aequidens :Cichlid Genus

Introduction
Aequidens is a South American genus of fish in the family Cichlidae.
Taxonomy
The Genus "Aequidens" is derived from Latin words, equips+equal+dens(teeth), which roughly
translates to "Fish with equal teeth".
For a long time "Aequidens" was a catch-all group for South American cichlids
with three anal fin spines and lacking any other disntinctive characters.
Many species which were formerly placed in this genus have been reallocated to other genera such as
Andinoacara, Bujurquina, Laetacara, Tahuantinsuyoa, Krobia and Cleithracara etc.
As presently defined, Aequidens is largely restricted to the Amazon Basin, Orinoco Basin
and river basins in The Guianas.
The only exceptions are A. plagiozonatus which also occurs in the Paraná Basin, and A.
tetramerus which also occurs in the Parnaíba River.
Description.
Aequidens is recognized for a group of Cichlasoma like cichlids, they differ from Cichlasoma
in having naked dorsal and anal fins and long caudal peduncle(tail) including 2-3 vertebrae
instead of none.
The genus was reviewed by Kullander in 1983, who recalssified cichlids in this genus into a number of
species groups.
Most of these species groups have since been recognized as separate genera
- Bujurquina
- Tahuantinsuyoa
- Laetacara
- Kullander
- Krobia
- Cleithracara
A. tetramerus, is the most widely found species of this genus and attains 160 mm SL.
It is recorded from most of the Amazon, Tocantins, and Orinoco basins, and Guianan rivers.
Species
Currently there are, 17 recognized species placed in this genus.
Many species from this genus are now placed in a new genus Adinocara like A. biseriatus,
A. coeruleopunctatus, A. latifrons, A. pulcher and A. rivulatus etc.
Species Name | Common Name | Image |
Aequidens chimantanus | Chusco | ![]() |
Aequidens diadema | Royal Acara | ![]() |
Aequidens epae | ![]() |
|
Aequidens greciliae | ![]() |
|
Aequidens hoehnei | ![]() |
|
Aequidens mauesanus | ![]() |
|
Aequidens metae | Yellow Acara | ![]() |
Aequidens michaeli | ![]() |
|
Aequidens pallidus | Double Spot Acara | ![]() |
Aequidens paloemeuensis | Talepuru | ![]() |
Aequidens patricki | Patrick´ Acara | ![]() |
Aequidens potaroensis | ![]() |
|
Aequidens rondoni | Acara Cichlid | ![]() |
Aequidens tetramerus | Saddle Cichlid | ![]() |
Aequidens tubicen | ![]() |
|
Aequidens viridis | Golden Acara | ![]() |
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- Fish Genus Aequidens
- Fish Genus Andinoacara
- Fish Genus Astronotus
- Fish Genus Chaetobranchopsis
- Fish Genus Etroplus
- Fish Genus Paretroplus
Articles related to Fish Species :
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