Oscar
📖 Overview
Preferably inhabits quiet shallow waters in mud-bottomed and sand-bottomed canals and ponds . Feeds on small fish, crayfish, worms and insect larvae. Quite popular with aquarists but not for aquaculturists because of its slow growth . Maximum length 40 cm TL . A highly esteemed food fish in South America .
🔬 Taxonomy
🐟 Physical Description
Dorsal spines (total): 12 - 14; Dorsal soft rays (total): 17 - 21; Anal spines: 3; Anal soft rays: 16 - 20. Large mouth with thick lips; 7 preopercular pores; first gill arch without lobe; gill rakers short and thick with many denticles; dorsal and anal fins bases densely scaled; many branched rays; body color dark with bright orange opercle margin and ventral parts of the lateral sides of the body; often a black rounded blotch with orange margin at caudal fin base .: short and / or deep; Cross section: oval.
🌀 Behaviour
Behavioural data for Oscar is currently being reviewed.
🦐 Diet
Diet information for Oscar is currently being compiled.
🥚 Reproduction
In captivity, both male and female clean a suitable spawning site - often a flat rock , or branches, or in a circular nest excavated in shallow water . Eggs (usually numbering in the thousands, Ref. 44091) are deposited and are guarded by both parents. Egg hatch in 3 or 4 days and parent move the fry to a shallow pit in the sand where they remain for 6 or 7 days .
🌍 Habitat & Distribution
Freshwater; benthopelagic; pH range: 6.0 - 8.0; dH range: 5 - 19. Tropical; 22°C - 25°C ; 4°N - 15°S, 78°W - 47°W South America: western Amazon and Orinoco basins.
🌿 Ecology
small fish, crayfish, worms and insect larvae
📐 Morphometrics
🌡️ Water Parameters & Tolerance
🛡️ Conservation Assessment
📊 Population Risk & Fisheries
🍽️ Edibility & Flavour
"Oscar is an edible species."
- Clear, bright eyes — cloudy eyes indicate age
- Firm flesh that springs back when pressed
- Fresh ocean smell, never strong or ammonia-like
- Bright red or pink gills, not grey or brown
- Shiny, moist skin with scales tightly attached
- Cloudy or sunken eyes
- Strong fishy or ammonia odour
- Soft, mushy flesh that doesn't spring back
- Discoloured or dry flesh
⚡ Nutrition
Per 100g cooked - Source: USDA FoodData Central
| Nutrient | Amount |
|---|---|
| Protein | 17.9 g |
| Omega-3 (total) | 318 mg |
🔬 Mercury Safety
Mercury data for Oscar has not yet been assigned. Please consult FDA/EPA guidance for general seafood safety advice.
🌿 Sustainability
🌐 Names & Taxonomy
| Language | Common Names |
|---|---|
| 🇬🇧English | Marble Cichlid · Northern Cichlid · Oscar · Oscar Cichlid · Oscar, Tiger oscar, Velvet cichlid · Red oscar · Tiger Oscar · Tiger Oscar Cichlid · Velvet Cichlid |
| 🇸🇦Arabic | أوسكار · أوسكار رخامي · أوسكار شمالي |
| 🌍CES | vrubozubec paví |
| 🇩🇰Danish | Påfugleøjecichlide |
| 🇩🇪German | Pfauenaugenbuntbarsch |
| 🇫🇮Finnish | riikinkukkoahven |
| 🇫🇷French | Cichlide oeil de paon · Cichlidé œil de paon, Oscar · Crombier · Oscar |
| 🇳🇱Dutch | Pauwoogcichlide |
| 🇵🇱Polish | Pielegnica pawiooka |
| 🇵🇹Portuguese | Acará-açu · Acará-grande · Apaiari · Corró-baiano · Oscar-ocelado |
| 🇷🇺Russian | Глазчатый астронотус |
| 🇪🇸Spanish | Acará · Carahuazú · Cíclido Oscar Tigre · Tigre Óscar · Vieja |
| 🇸🇪Swedish | påfågelciklid · oscar |
| 🇨🇳Chinese | 圖麗魚 · 地圖魚 · 地圖魚，花豬 |
Scientific Synonyms
| Scientific Name | Author | Year | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Acara compressus | Cope | 1872 | Synonym |
| Acara hyposticta | Cope | 1878 | Synonym |
| Acara ocellatus | Agassiz | 1831 | Synonym |
| Astronotus ocellatus ocellatus | Agassiz | 1831 | Synonym |
| Astronotus ocellatus zebra | Pellegrin | 1904 | Synonym |
| Astronotus orbiculatus | Haseman | 1911 | Synonym |
| Cychla rubroocellata | Jardine & Schomburgk | 1843 | Synonym |
| Lobotes ocellatus | Agassiz | 1831 | Synonym |
🔍 Similar Species
🗺️ Global Occurrence Map
Occurrence records from the Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF) - 62 records indexed .
👥 Community & Contribute
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