cichlid

American  

[sik-lid] / ˈsɪk lɪd /

Also cichloid

noun

1. any of the spiny-rayed, freshwater fishes constituting the family Cichlidae, of South America, Africa, and southern Asia, superficially resembling the American sunfishes and popular in home aquariums.

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adjective

1. belonging or pertaining to the family Cichlidae.

cichlid British  

/ ˈsɪklɪd /

noun

1. any tropical freshwater percoid fish of the family Cichlidae, which includes the mouthbrooders. Cichlids are popular aquarium fishes

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adjective

1. of, relating to, or belonging to the Cichlidae

Other Word Forms

• cichloid
  adjective

Etymology

Origin of cichlid

1880–85; < New Latin Cichlidae, equivalent to Cichl ( a ) a genus (< Greek kíchlē thrush, wrasse) + -idae -id ²

Example Sentences

"Cichlids are known for filling a huge diversity of different ecological niches and being able to adapt to changes in their environment," they said.

From Science Daily • May 20, 2024

Cichlids soon became the lake’s dominant fish, rapidly diversifying into ever more species and outcompeting other fish that also had an early advantage at colonizing the lake.

From Science Magazine • Oct. 4, 2023

Cichlids of one species can generally breed successfully with those from other species, a situation that can lead to offspring with a unique set of traits.

From Science Magazine • Oct. 4, 2023

Cichlids in Lake Victoria have adapted to occupy nearly every imaginable role in the ecosystem.

From Science Daily • Sep. 29, 2023

Those Cichlids the doctor is holding in the top picture look something like the Haplochromis from Lake Victoria, very pretty.

From New York Times • Sep. 10, 2010