Orange chromide

Orange chromide
Orange chromide from the Bharathapuzha River, India
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Actinopterygii
Division: Teleostei
Order: Cichliformes
Family: Cichlidae
Subfamily: Etroplinae
Genus: Pseudetroplus
Bleeker, 1862
Species:
P. maculatus
Binomial name
Pseudetroplus maculatus
(Bloch, 1795)
Synonyms
  • Etroplus maculatus (Bloch, 1795)
  • Chaetodon maculatus Bloch, 1795
  • Etroplus coruchi Cuvier, 1830
  • Glyphisodon kakaitsel Lacepède, 1802
  • Glyphisodon koruschi Cuvier, 1830

The orange chromide (Pseudetroplus maculatus) is a species of cichlid endemic to freshwater and brackish streams, lagoons and estuaries of southern India and Sri Lanka. It is popular with fishkeeping hobbyists, and reaches a length of up to 8 cm (3.1 in).

Names

The specific epithet of this species, maculatus, is Latin for "spotted", and is a reference to the large black spot on the upper flanks. In Malayalam, it is known as pallathi (പള്ളത്തി).

Diet

The selectively bred bright orange-yellow variant often seen in the aquarium trade

This species co-occurs throughout its range with the green chromide (Etroplus suratensis) and preys on the eggs and larvae of the latter. Additionally, it removes parasites from the larger green chromide; this is an example of cleaning symbiosis. This species also feeds on zooplankton and algae.

Parental care

Young orange chromides feed on the mucous coating of their parents; this is essential for their survival. During the feeding period, the parent fishes' mucous gland secretions increase by 34%.

References

  1. ↑ Abraham, R.; de Alwis Goonatilake, S.; Fernado, M.; Kotagama, O. (2019). "Etroplus maculatus". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2019 e.T172481A60632931. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2019-3.RLTS.T172481A60632931.en. Retrieved 5 December 2023.
  2. ↑ "Etroplus maculatus (Bloch, 1795)". Global Biodiversity Information Facility. Retrieved 8 December 2023.
  3. ↑ Pethiyagoda, R., Maduwage, K. & Manamendra-Arachchi, K. (2014): Validation of the South Asian cichlid genus Pseudetroplus Bleeker (Pisces: Cichlidae). Zootaxa, 3838 (5): 595–600.
  4. 1 2 3 Loiselle, P.V. (1995). The Cichlid Aquarium. Germany: Tetra Press. ISBN 1-56465-146-0.
  5. 1 2 3 Froese, Rainer; Pauly, Daniel (eds.). "Etroplus maculatus". FishBase. April 2017 version.
  6. ↑ Riehl, R.. & Baensch, H.A. (1995). Aquarium Atlas. Germany: Tetra Press. ISBN 3-88244-050-3.
  7. ↑ Gerking, Shelby D. (Apr 25, 2014). Feeding Ecology of Fish. Elsevier. p. 286. ISBN 978-1-4832-8852-9.