Vieja melanura

Vieja melanura, the quetzal cichlid, redhead cichlid or firehead cichlid, is a species of cichlid native to Central America where it occurs in the Usumacinta River drainage in the countries of Mexico, Belize and Guatemala. This species can reach a length of 35 centimetres (14 in) TL. It is also popular in the aquarium trade.[1][2]

Vieja melanura
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Actinopterygii
Order: Cichliformes
Family: Cichlidae
Genus: Vieja
Species:
V. melanura
Binomial name
Vieja melanura
(Günther, 1862)
Synonyms
  • Heros melanurus Günther, 1862
  • Cichlasoma melanurum (Günther, 1862)
  • Paraneetroplus melanurus (Günther, 1862)
  • Heros melanopogon Steindachner, 1864
  • Cichlasoma synspilum C. L. Hubbs, 1935
  • Vieja melanurus (Günther, 1862)
  • Vieja synspila (C. L. Hubbs, 1935)
  • Vieja synspilum (C. L. Hubbs, 1935)
  • Cichlaurus hicklingi Fowler, 1956
  • Cichlasoma hicklingi (Fowler, 1956)
  • Paraneetroplus synspilus (C. L. Hubbs, 1935)

It is one of the most colourful cichlid species with males displaying metallic green, blue, pink and orange along their flanks. It has been used in creating new hybridized aquarium cichlids that became popular in Asia in recent years and is probably one of the parents of modern blood parrot cichlids and flowerhorn cichlids.

References
  1. Froese, Rainer; Pauly, Daniel, eds. (2019). "Vieja melanura". Fishbase. Retrieved 24 January 2019.
  2. Eschmeyer, William N.; Fricke, Ron & van der Laan, Richard (eds.). "Vieja melanurus". Catalog of Fishes. California Academy of Sciences. Retrieved 24 January 2019.


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