Moga
📖 Overview
Inhabit lakes and rivers with slow to moderate currents, between 5 to 200 m elevation . Juveniles feed on aquatic insects, while adults feed on bottom detritus, seeds and leaves. Also naturally feed on snails and other mollusks, but will accept a variety of food in captivity . Maximum length 25 cm TL .
🔬 Taxonomy
🐟 Physical Description
Dorsal spines (total): 18 - 19; Dorsal soft rays (total): 9 - 11; Anal spines: 7 - 8; Anal soft rays: 7 - 9. This species can be distinguished by the dark line running through the middle of the body and the large black blotch positioned midlength; head profile extremely curved with the mouth on the lower part of the head; in males, the scales have dark edges producing a reticulated pattern, their fins with many dark spots, and a red edge to the dorsal fin; both males with iridescent, greenish-blue head and with gold to copper-colored bodies .: fusiform / normal; Cross section: compressed.
🌀 Behaviour
Behavioural data for Moga is currently being reviewed.
🦐 Diet
Diet information for Moga is currently being compiled.
🥚 Reproduction
Deposits eggs in sand depressions. Produces about 200-400 non adhesive eggs with females practicing communal care during the post spawning period (an unusual behavior referred to as "creching", Ref. 44091). A group of 3 or 4 females stand guard over their combined spawns, encircling the expanded group and do not allow any intruders or predators into the rearing arena.
🌍 Habitat & Distribution
Freshwater; benthopelagic; pH range: 7.0 - 8.0; dH range: 9 - 20. Tropical; 23°C - 36°C Central America: Atlantic slope, from the San Juan drainage, including Lake Nicaragua, in Costa Rica and Nicaragua, to the Matina River drainage in Costa Rica.
🌿 Ecology
aquatic insects, while adults feed on bottom detritus, seeds and leaves
📐 Morphometrics
🌡️ Water Parameters & Tolerance
🛡️ Conservation Assessment
📊 Population Risk & Fisheries
🌐 Names & Taxonomy
| Language | Common Names |
|---|---|
| 🇬🇧English | Butterfly Cichlid · Macaw Cichlid · Moga · Nicaragua Cichlid · Nickie · Parrot Cichlid |
| 🌍CES | kančík nikaragujský |
| 🇩🇰Danish | Nicaragua-cichlide |
| 🇫🇮Finnish | turkoosikirjoahven |
| 🇪🇸Spanish | Moga · Moga Amarilla |
Scientific Synonyms
| Scientific Name | Author | Year | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cichlasom spilotum | Meek | 1912 | Synonym |
| Cichlasoma balteatum | Gill | 1877 | Synonym |
| Cichlasoma nicaraguense | Günther | 1864 | Synonym |
| Cichlasoma spilotum | Meek | 1912 | Synonym |
| Copora nicaraguensis | Günther | 1864 | Synonym |
| Herichthys nicaraguensis | Günther | 1864 | Synonym |
| Heros balteatus | Gill | 1877 | Synonym |
| Heros nicaraguensis | Günther | 1864 | Synonym |
| Hypsophrys unimaculatus | Agassiz | 1859 | Heterotypic |
🔍 Similar Species
🗺️ Global Occurrence Map
Occurrence records from the Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF) - 13 records indexed .
👥 Community & Contribute
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