The Cichlids
THE Cichlids are a large family of freshwater fishes of moderate or small size in southern Mexico, Central and South America, resembling in form, size, appearance, habits, and even in many details of structure, the sunfishes or Centrarchidae of the United States, from which they are readily distinguished, however, by having the lower pharyngeals fully united, and only a single nostril on each side. The family contains some 40 genera and 150 species. North of the Isthmus of Panama are found 7 genera, represented by about 60 species. The principal genera are Cichlasoma, Heros and Petenia. The species have not been carefully studied, and little is known of their habits or distribution.