Mayaheros urophthalmus

Mayaheros urophthalmus, also known as theMayan cichlidorMexican mojarrais aspeciesofcichlid.
Previously, thisspecieswas a member of thegenusCichlasomaand the subgeneric sectionNandopsis. However, the genusCichlasomais in revision and has been restricted to the 12 species ofSouth Americancichlids related toCichlasoma bimaculatum. Thus, many of the approximately 100 species that were formerly members ofCichlasomahave yet to be formally assigned to new genera.
This species can be found inMiddle America. It is native to the Atlantic slope of tropicalMesoamerica, ranging from easternMexicosouthward toNicaragua.It was first recorded fromEverglades National Park,Floridain 1983 and is now a common nonindigenous fish inSouth Florida.
The Mayan cichlid inhabits freshwater marshes, mangrove swamps,lakes,rivers, rocky shorelines,lagoons,estuaries, and coastal islands. Adults prefer coastal lagoons and rivers and may survive in marine conditions.It can be found in oxygen-rich areas near submerged vegetation and over muddy substrates. Despite its preference for waters with dissolved oxygen content of at least 3.5 mg/L, though, it is capable of surviving in extreme hypoxia, because it is an oxygen conformer, becoming much less active in hypoxic water, and even surviving virtual anoxia for up to two hours.Unusually, this fish has been recorded in somecenotesin theYucatan Peninsula.
Mayaheros urophthalmusreaches a maximum length of 39.4 cm (15.5 in).This fish is one of the larger cichlids. The body is oval and flattened on the sides and the head is tapering towards the mouth. Fins are spiny. It has a basecolorof yellow-brown to gray-brown in most cases, that becomes intense red during breeding. The head and throat are reddish, especially in younger fish. The caudal fin and the soft-sections of the dorsal and anal fin are usually more or less reddish. Six wide green-black vertical stripes run across the sides of the body between the base of the pectoral fin and the base of the caudal fin. There is a large black eye spot circled with blue-green on the tail stem (hence the species scientific nameurophthalmus(fromoura, Greek for tail andophthalmos, Greek for eye).Since the distribution area of the species is relatively large, this species may occurs in different colors, which may differ from the one described above.
In its native range, the Mayan cichlid is a popular food fish. For this reason it is the basis of a regional fishery, is commonly used inaquaculture. As in many animals, the red color is much more brilliant in wildspecimensthan captive ones, but one can help maintain some of its vibrance by feeding the fish live foods and foods that containVitamin A, which breaks down into the red pigmentbeta-carotenein the body.
It is among the most-studied of theNeotropicalcichlids.To date, the Mayan cichlid has been most intensively studied at localities in southeastern Mexico on or near theYucatán Peninsula.
InThailand, it is listed as one of 13 aquatic species prohibited for import and possession including cultivation by theDepartment of Fisheries(DOF) alongside other species such aszebra tilapia(Heterotilapia buttikoferi) andblackchin tilapia(Sarotherodon melanotheron) etc.
The Mayan cichlid isphilopatric, or site tenacious, i.e. - individuals are non-migratory and prefer to stay within a home range.The Mayan cichlid has a minimum temperature requirement of about 14 °C (57 °F).In its native range, it inhabits waters with temperatures from 18–34 °C (64–93 °F), but its optimal temperature range is 28–33 °C (82–91 °F).
The Mayan cichlid is capable of surviving in a variety of conditions. It iseuryhalineand can survive in a range of salinity from 0 – 40 ppt.Experiments on captive specimens have shown that it can tolerate abrupt increases in salinity of up to 15 ppt.The Mayan cichlid has a broad range of tolerance to abiotic conditions and a broad functional repertoire to enable it to feed on about 20% of evasive prey due to its 6.8% jaw protrusion while feeding.
This species is also a dietary generalist, consuming organisms from a variety of disparate taxa.However, it is susceptible to malnourishment, apparently due to the requirement that a relatively large proportion of its diet be animal prey.The Mayan cichlid's diet includes plant matter, smaller fish,algae,detritus,snails,crustaceans, andinsects.
The Mayan cichlid isterritorialandaggressivewhen breeding.As parents, Mayan cichlids are highly protective of their young, and they have several broods per year. This species is a monogamous, biparental substrate spawner that exhibits minimalsexual dimorphismand guards its fry for up to six weeks. All of these traits are greatly developed and represent an extreme in the general pattern found in the genusMayaheros. In Mexico, the Mayan cichlid spawns for a nine-month period from March to November, particularly during the wet season from June to September. This corresponds to a period when the water temperature is at least 24 degrees Celsius.Multiple broods are raised per year. The fry appear to be adapted to lotic water. They exhibit strongly positive geotactic behavior, actively swimming down to the substrate upon hatching from the egg and adhering themselves to the bottom by means of three pairs of mucous glands.