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.

---

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

---

adjective

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

Other Word Forms

Derived 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

Detailed analyses of the data revealed a strong correlation between exploratory behavior and the habitat -- and body shape -- of the respective cichlid species.

From Science Daily • Apr. 25, 2024

For a total of nine months, first author Dr. Carolin Sommer-Trembo recorded the "exploratory behavior" of 57 different cichlid species at the Southern shore of Lake Tanganyika in Zambia.

From Science Daily • Apr. 25, 2024

Others, including the emperor cichlid, checked out virtually the entire area right away.

From Science Magazine • Apr. 24, 2024

The findings suggest opportunity and versatility matter more than primacy, adds George Turner, an evolutionary biologist and cichlid fish expert at Bangor University who was also not involved.

From Science Magazine • Oct. 4, 2023

Figure 11 shows this type of speciation among a cichlid fish population in Nicaragua.

From Textbooks • Jan. 1, 2015