Fauna
Fish

Midas Cichlid

Amphilophus citrinellus

Also known as Mojarra Brillante

Midas cichlids are robust freshwater fish famous for their polychromatism, transitioning from cryptic grey-brown juvenile barring into vivid gold, orange, or white color morphs as they mature. Adult males develop prominent fatty nuchal humps on their foreheads, which serve as visual displays to intimidate rivals and court prospective mates. Fiercely territorial pairs excavate rocky crevices along lake bottoms to guard their adhesive egg clutches and aggressively herd free-swimming fry.

FreshwaterTerritorialPolychromatic
Midas Cichlid reference1 / 3
(c) Marco Verch, some rights reserved (CC BY) · cc-by
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Least ConcernConservation statusIUCN Red List categoriesLCNTVUENCREWEXLeast ConcernRed List categories, explained →
Key facts
Diet & preyFreshwater snails, Small fish, Aquatic insect larvae
Predators
  • Neotropical River Otter
  • Piscivorous waterbirds
  • Larger predatory fish
ThreatsPollution, hybridization with introduced cichlids, and shoreline degradation
HabitatsVolcanic crater lakes, slow-moving rivers, and rocky shorelines
Life span10–15 years
Classification
  1. OrderPerciformes
  2. FamilyCichlidae
  3. GenusAmphilophus
  4. SpeciesAmphilophus citrinellus
Range & activity
Range data is not available yet.
Safe observation
Interaction riskLow
  1. Low
  2. Moderate
  3. High
  4. Very high
Why interaction risk is low
Safe to observe at a normal distance.
Responsible observation
  • Snorkeling Etiquette: Watch breeding pairs defend rocky nesting pits without crowding them.
  • Aquarium Caution: Never release captive individuals into local waterways where they become invasive.
Related species
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