Giant cichlid facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Giant cichlid |
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The giant cichlid (Boulengerochromis microlepis), also known as the emperor cichlid, is a very large type of fish. It belongs to the Cichlidae family. This fish is special because it lives only in Lake Tanganyika in Africa. It is the only species in its group, called Boulengerochromis.
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About the Giant Cichlid
Size and Appearance
The giant cichlid is one of the biggest cichlid fish in the world. Male giant cichlids can grow up to 90 cm (3.0 ft) long. Females are a bit smaller, reaching about 75 cm (2.5 ft). This makes them possibly the largest living cichlid species. Only the speckled peacock bass from South America grows to a similar size.
Where They Live and What They Eat
Giant cichlids live only in Lake Tanganyika in Africa. You can find them in parts of the lake near Burundi, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Tanzania, and Zambia. They are quite common in coastal areas. They can live in waters as deep as 100 m (330 ft).
Adult giant cichlids are mostly piscivorous, which means they eat other fish. Younger cichlids are omnivores, meaning they eat both plants and animals.
Behavior and Habitat
Adult giant cichlids often swim in small groups when they are looking for food. When it's time to lay eggs, they find a special place to do so. Young cichlids prefer shallower areas with lots of rocks. These rocks give them good places to hide from bigger fish.
Sometimes, people try to keep giant cichlids as aquarium fish. However, they grow so large that they need huge tanks. This means they are only suitable for the biggest private aquariums or public aquariums.
How the Giant Cichlid Got Its Name
The giant cichlid was first described in 1899 by a scientist named George Albert Boulenger. He first called it Tilapia microlepis. Later, in 1904, another scientist named Jacques Pellegrin realized it wasn't a tilapia. So, he created a new group, or genus, for it and named it Boulengerochromis.
The name Boulengerochromis is a combination of two parts. The first part, "Boulenger," honors George Albert Boulenger. He was a famous scientist from Belgium who studied fish and reptiles. The second part, "chromis," comes from an old Greek word. The Greek philosopher Aristotle used "chromis" to describe a type of fish. This word might have come from "chroemo," which means "to neigh," because some fish make noises. Over time, scientists used "chromis" in the names of many different fish, including cichlids, because they thought these fish were related.
