Apistogramma

Apistogramma is a large genus of freshwater fish in the family Cichlidae native to South America, but also commonly kept in aquariums. They are dwarf cichlids that mostly feed on tiny animals and have breeding behaviors that vary depending on the exact species.

Apistogramma is a large genus of freshwater fish in the family Cichlidae native to South America, but also commonly kept in aquariums. They are dwarf cichlids that mostly feed on tiny animals and have breeding behaviors that vary depending on the exact species.

Range, conservation status and habitat

Apistogramma are exclusively found in tropical and subtropical South America in the lowlands east of the Andes. The highest richness is in the western Amazon Basin and Orinoco Basin, but there are also species in the Guianan Shield, eastern Amazon Basin, rivers flowing into the Atlantic in northern Brazil (Tocantins–Araguaia to Parnaíba) and the Río de la Plata Basin. Although a few species are widespread, most members of this genus have small ranges. Few members of the genus have been evaluated by the IUCN, mostly either ranking as least concern (not threatened) or data deficient (limited available data prevents an evaluation), but some of the highly localized Apistogramma species likely are threatened. Primary threats to their survival are deforestation (causing changes in their microhabitat) and pollution (for example by oil drilling or mining). Apistogramma generally inhabit streams, or edges of rivers or lakes. Most prefer sheltered habitats with leaf litter on the bottom in water with little movement and a shallow depth, up to about , although a few species occur deeper, in fast-flowing water, in more open habitats or at the surface among floating plants.

Appearance

Apistogramma are dwarf cichlids with adults reaching between in standard length depending on species. Most species are strongly sexually dimorphic, with males generally larger than females and possessing different color patterns than the females (which at least when breeding are most frequently yellow with blackish markings); in a few species this pattern is reversed or the sexes are rather similar. Additionally, they often change color depending on behavior, for example when looking for food, breeding or during aggressive encounters. A few species, including A. agassizii, A. cacatuoides, A hongsloi and A. macmasteri, have been selectively bred by aquarists to achieve brighter colors than the natural, wild forms.

Behavior

Apistogramma are omnivores, but tending towards micropredatory. Their main food items consist of aquatic insect larvae and other small invertebrates, fish fry, algae and plant debris. Brood care is highly developed, as in most cichlids. Nearly all Apistogramma species spawn in crevices (small caves), typically in holes in sunken logs or branches, or in leaf litter aggregations. A number of breeding strategies exist in the genus. Some species breed in polygamous harems, while other species form monogamous pairs. Three of the described species, A. barlowi, A. megastoma and A. pantalone, practice mouthbrooding, either by both parents or only by the female. In most cases, regardless of the breeding strategy, the female is more highly involved with care of the eggs and fry, whilst the male defends a territory from predators. The sex of the fry is affected by the water conditions: In all species where it has been studied warmer water results in more males and in some species more acidic water (lower pH) also results in more males.

Taxonomy and species

, male]] , male]] , pair]] , male]] , female and male]] , male]] Apistogramma is part of Geophagini and its closest relatives are Apistogrammoides and Taeniacara. There are currently 93 recognized Apistogramma species, making it the most species-rich genus of cichlid in the Americas, together with Crenicichla. New species of Apistogramma are regularly described, and undescribed species—sometimes cryptic—are known to exist in the genus. Several of the recognized species occur in more than one form, and some of these actually may represent separate species, as appears to be the case for the "Papagayo" and "Pebás" forms, both typically included in A. ortegai. A comprehensive taxonomic review of the genus is necessary. The genus is sometimes divided into subgroups based on the appearance and phylogenetic relationship of the various species. Apistogramma acrensis Staeck, 2003 Apistogramma agassizii (Steindachner, 1875) Apistogramma aguarico Römer & Hahn, 2013 Apistogramma alacrina S. O. Kullander, 2004 Apistogramma allpahuayo Römer et al., 2012 Apistogramma amoena (Cope, 1872) Apistogramma angayuara S. O. Kullander & E. F. G. Ferreira, 2005 Apistogramma arua Römer & Warzel, 1998 Apistogramma atahualpa Römer, 1997 Apistogramma baenschi Römer, Hahn, Römer, Soares & Wöhler, 2004 Apistogramma barlowi Römer & Hahn, 2008 Apistogramma bitaeniata Pellegrin, 1936 Apistogramma borellii (Regan, 1906) Apistogramma brevis S. O. Kullander, 1980 Apistogramma cacatuoides Hoedeman, 1951 Apistogramma caetei S. O. Kullander, 1980 Apistogramma caudomaculata Mesa_Salazar & Lasso, 2011 Apistogramma cinilabra Römer et al., 2011 Apistogramma commbrae (Regan, 1906) Apistogramma cruzi S. O. Kullander, 1986 Apistogramma diplotaenia S. O. Kullander, 1987 Apistogramma eleutheria Varella & Britzke, 2016 Apistogramma elizabethae S. O. Kullander, 1980 Apistogramma eremnopyge Ready & S. O. Kullander, 2004 Apistogramma erythrura Staeck & I. Schindler, 2008 Apistogramma eunotus S. O. Kullander, 1981 Apistogramma feconat Römer et al., 2015 Apistogramma flabellicauda Mesa-Salazar & Lasso, 2011 Apistogramma flavipedunculata Varella & Britzke, 2016 Apistogramma geisleri Meinken, 1971 Apistogramma gephyra S. O. Kullander, 1980 Apistogramma gibbiceps Meinken, 1969 Apistogramma gossei S. O. Kullander, 1982 Apistogramma guttata Antonio C., S. O. Kullander & Lasso A., 1989 Apistogramma helkeri Schindler & Staeck, 2013 Apistogramma hippolytae S. O. Kullander, 1982 Apistogramma hoignei Meinken, 1965 Apistogramma hongsloi S. O. Kullander, 1979 Apistogramma huascar Römer, Pretor & Hahn, 2006 Apistogramma inconspicua S. O. Kullander, 1983 Apistogramma iniridae S. O. Kullander, 1979 Apistogramma inornata Staeck, 2003 Apistogramma intermedia Mesa-Salazar & Lasso, 2011 Apistogramma juruensis S. O. Kullander, 1986 Apistogramma kullanderi Varella & Sabaj Pérez, 2014 Apistogramma lineata Mesa-Salazar & Lasso, 2011 Apistogramma linkei Koslowski, 1985 Apistogramma luelingi S. O. Kullander, 1976 Apistogramma macmasteri S. O. Kullander, 1979 Apistogramma martini Römer, Hahn, Römer, Soares & Wöhler, 2003 Apistogramma megaptera Mesa Salazar & Lasso, 2011 Apistogramma megastoma Römer et al., 2017 Apistogramma meinkeni S. O. Kullander, 1980 Apistogramma mendezi U. Römer, 1994 Apistogramma minima Mesa S. & Lasso A., 2011 Apistogramma moae S. O. Kullander, 1980 Apistogramma nijsseni S. O. Kullander, 1979 Apistogramma norberti Staeck, 1991 Apistogramma nororientalis Mesa-Salazar & Lasso, 2011 Apistogramma ortegai Britzke, C. de Oliveira & S. O. Kullander, 2014 Apistogramma ortmanni (C. H. Eigenmann, 1912) Apistogramma panduro U. Römer, 1997 Apistogramma pantalone Römer, Römer, Soares & Hahn, 2006 Apistogramma paucisquamis S. O. Kullander & Staeck, 1988 Apistogramma paulmuelleri Römer et al., 2013 Apistogramma payaminonis S. O. Kullander, 1986 Apistogramma pedunculata Mesa-Salazar & Lasso, 2011 Apistogramma personata S. O. Kullander, 1980 Apistogramma pertensis (Haseman, 1911) Apistogramma piaroa Mesa-Salazar & Lasso, 2011 Apistogramma piauiensis S. O. Kullander, 1980 Apistogramma playayacu Römer, Beninde & Hahn, 2011 Apistogramma pleurotaenia (Regan, 1909) Apistogramma psammophila Staeck & Schindler, 2019 Apistogramma pulchra S. O. Kullander, 1980 Apistogramma regani S. O. Kullander, 1980 Apistogramma resticulosa S. O. Kullander, 1980 Apistogramma rositae Römer, Römer & Hahn, 2006 Apistogramma rubrolineata Hein, Zarske & Zapata, 2002 Apistogramma rupununi Fowler, 1914 Apistogramma salpinction S. O. Kullander & E. F. G. Ferreira, 2005 Apistogramma similis Staeck, 2003 Apistogramma sororcula Staeck & Schindler, 2016 Apistogramma staecki Koslowski, 1985 Apistogramma steindachneri (Regan, 1908) Apistogramma taeniata (Günther, 1862) Apistogramma trifasciata (C. H. Eigenmann & C. H. Kennedy, 1903) Apistogramma tucurui Staeck, 2003 Apistogramma uaupesi S. O. Kullander, 1980 Apistogramma urteagai S. O. Kullander, 1986 Apistogramma velifera Staeck, 2003 Apistogramma viejita S. O. Kullander, 1979 Apistogramma wapisana U. Römer, Hahn & Conrad, 2006 Apistogramma wolli Römer et al., 2015

References

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