Kullander's Groupings

A new thread:

Cichlasomines: Acaronia, all Central American genera, Astronotus, Australoheros, Caquetaia, Chaetobranchopsis, Chaetobranchus, Cichlasoma, Heroina, Heros, Hoplarchus, Hypselecara, Mesonauta, Pterophyllum, Retroculus, Symphysodon, Uaru.

Acara: Aequidens, 'Aequidens', Bujurquina, Cleithracara, Crenicara, Dicrossus, Guianacara, Ivanacara, Krobia, Laetacara, Mazarunia, Nannacara, Taeniacara, Tahuantinsyoa.

Geophagine: Acarichthys, Apistogramma, Apistogrammoides, Biotodoma, Biotoecus, Geophagus, 'Geophagus', Gymnogeophagus, Microgeophagus, Satanoperca.

Other: Cichla, Crenicichla, Teleocichla.

I agree with the opening comments on Retroculus:

Retroculus: This one stumps me. In a newer paper, Kullander provided DNA evidence stating that this genus is a Cichlasomine, indeed much closer to Cichlasoma than to any Geophagine genera. Despite having the gill arch needed for inclusion for the Geophagines, as well as the Satanoperca like shape ... these are now believed to be a result of convergant evolution (different fish in similiar type areas devoloping similiar evolutions) versus direct evolution (descended from eartheaters).

A Look at my 200

Current inhabitants:
1 Astronotus ocellatus
1 Uaru amphiacanthoides
1 Heros efasciatus
1 Heros notatus
2 Cichlasoma sp. 'Guyana' (1 who may actually be something else despite the protestations of the store I bought him from - beautiful anyway. My guess is some species of Aequidens)
9 Unknown - possibly an Astatheros variety
3 Acarichthys heckelii (temporary residents)
1 'Geophagus' steindachneri (temporary resident)

Music: I'm playing the piano for this while my sister took the video. It is a bastardized excerpt from the song Doctor Gradus ad Parnassum from Gregor Mendel's "Children's Corner."

Update. Further Visual Comparison.

G. sp. 'Araguaia Red Head'


G. sp. 'Tapajos Red Head'


I thought I'd come back and correct myself... Apparently, according to the information here, the fish I presented in the previous post was Geophagus sp. 'Araguaia Red Head'.

When given the choice between the three species I would probably pick G. camopiensis because of its understated beauty. Also, it isn't as large a species and can readily be kept in smaller tanks. A close second would be the Tapajos variety.

Photo credit goes to Schmuck and Fella as well as Eartheaters Australia

A Comparison

G. sp. 'Tapajos Red Head'


G. camopiensis


When looking at the two species simultaneously my eyes are drawn to the camopiensis simply because it looks like it's blushing. A simple Valentine present. The Tapajos is very, very beautiful in its own right, but when presented next to understated beauty looks gaudy and ostentatious.

Photo credit goes to S. Bochenko

Beautiful Tank

Geophagus sp. 'Tapajos Red Head' is one of my favorite eartheaters. I prefer G. camopiensis though. Its more subtle coloring gives it a very beautiful delicate appearance.