Fish · GBIF taxon 5208153
Butterfly Peacock Bass
Cichla ocellarisAlso known as Butterfly Peacock Cichlid, Eye-Spot Cichlid, Lukanani
Butterfly peacock bass dominate tropical shallows through rapid ambush bursts, flaring brilliant golden flanks patterned with three dark vertical bars. Breeding adults form devoted pairs that scrupulously sweep rocky substrates to prepare nesting beds, defending both eggs and fry against all intruders. In non-native Florida canals, their predatory drive helps suppress overabundant exotic forage species without disrupting native game fish communities.
PredatoryFreshwaterColorful
Licensed reference(c) MOs810, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA) · cc-by-sa
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Least ConcernConservation statusIUCN Red List categoriesLCNTVUENCREWEXLeast ConcernRed List categories, explained →
Diet & prey
- Spotted Tilapia
- Mosquitofish
- Threadfin Shad
Predators
- Black Caiman
- Giant Otter
- Osprey
ThreatsSevere cold snaps in introduced ranges, water pollution, and habitat alteration
HabitatsSlow-moving rivers, canals, floodplains, and freshwater lagoons
Life span6–10 years
Size / weightNot available
Classification
- OrderPerciformes
- FamilyCichlidae
- GenusCichla
- SpeciesCichla ocellaris
Range data is not available yet.
Interaction riskLow
- Low
- Moderate
- High
- Very high
- Why interaction risk is low
- Safe to observe at a normal distance.
Responsible observation
- Observation: Scan sunny, clear canal edges and rocky drop-offs during midday hours when adults hunt actively.
- Angling: Support large specimens horizontally by the body rather than hoisting them purely by the lower jaw.
- Breeding Season: Watch for mated pairs aggressively patrolling circular cleared patches on hard lake bottoms.
Image unavailablePrey 
Competitor (c) Oak Ridge National Laboratory, some rights reserved (CC BY) · cc-by
Close Relative (c) Wellerson Santana, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA) · cc-by-sa
Close Relative (c) LuisGomez111, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA) · cc-by-sa
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