Thanks for the answer. About convicts, I laughed out loud when I saw a the web page for a cichlid specialist fish supplier in the US yesterday. They had rare this, rare that, even had special sections for fish where I would be impressed if they had a single species. Then I saw "Archocentrus nigrofasciatus - out of stock". The mind boggles as to how they managed to run out of convicts.
As to un-cichlidlike cichlids, if I hadn't known about them already, I may not have recognised the Teleogramma species (probably brichardi) I saw once. And these pictures of Teleogramma depressum look even less cichlid-like than what I saw.
http://www.blackwaterfish.com/depress.htm
Cyprichromis species may be common, and therefore impossible to miss. But, if I didn't know of them and saw them unlabelled in a tank, I might not immediately spot them as cichlids. The long dorsal fin would probably give the game away. I think there are some elongated predators in Lake Malawi or Tanganyika which have much reduced dorsal fins, but I can't remember their genus name and hence can't find them on the web.
http://www.cichlidae.com/gallery/species.php?s=32
I'm sure that there are a lot of even less typically cichlid "on first glance" fish around. I have Axelrod's book and will have a look through. I'm sure you can come up with better examples than mine.
I agree that there are many viewpoints by which fish may be typically or untypically cichlids. I started thinking about this after looking around to find out exactly what was "anomalous" about Anomalochromis thomasi, which without looking into things in detail, looks a very typical cichlid. I'm interested to hear what, in your opinion and using whatever criteria you like, you would think the least cichlid-like cichlid.
Cheers,
Ross-c
Trivial Questions II
Moderator: Pam Chin
Trivial Questions II
Life would be perfect if it weren't for this one little glitch....
Hi Ross,
I think you may be trying to use some logic, when it comes to cichlid names, or really any fish names. There is no logic, the name is determinded my the describer, and although many are about they way the fish may look or act, there are many that really don't make sense at all. I have tried to apply common sense, and it usually never works!!
I have thought about your question for a couple of days now, and I am still at a loss as to what cichlid would be considered looking like a non cichlid. I can't come up with one. The cichlid behavior of defining a territory, and laying eggs, applies to every one I can think of which ultimately makes them a cichlid!!!
Also remember that I am really a cichlid person, and have really not seriously kept anything but cichlids. I have cichlid blinders on, at my house it is a contest to see if you can find a non cichlid in my tanks. I keep coming up with fish that seem cichlid like, but not a cichlid. Like Rainbow fish, Killiefish, or even paradise fish, there are many of these that remind me of cichlids even though they are not.
I think you may be trying to use some logic, when it comes to cichlid names, or really any fish names. There is no logic, the name is determinded my the describer, and although many are about they way the fish may look or act, there are many that really don't make sense at all. I have tried to apply common sense, and it usually never works!!
I have thought about your question for a couple of days now, and I am still at a loss as to what cichlid would be considered looking like a non cichlid. I can't come up with one. The cichlid behavior of defining a territory, and laying eggs, applies to every one I can think of which ultimately makes them a cichlid!!!
Also remember that I am really a cichlid person, and have really not seriously kept anything but cichlids. I have cichlid blinders on, at my house it is a contest to see if you can find a non cichlid in my tanks. I keep coming up with fish that seem cichlid like, but not a cichlid. Like Rainbow fish, Killiefish, or even paradise fish, there are many of these that remind me of cichlids even though they are not.