Cichlid | 台北市立動物園資訊網

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Family of fishes

Cichlids [a] are fish from the family Cichlidae in the order Cichliformes. Traditionally Cichlids were classed in a suborder, the Labroidei, along with the wrasses (Labridae), in the order Perciformes,[3] but molecular studies have contradicted this grouping.[4] On the basis of fossil evidence, it first appeared in Argentina during the Early Eocene epoch, about 48.6 million years ago;[1] however, molecular clock estimates have placed the familys origin as far back as 67 million years ago, during the late Cretaceous period.[2] The closest living relative of cichlids is probably the convict blenny, and both families are classified in the 5th edition of Fishes of the World as the two families in the Cichliformes, part of the subseries Ovalentaria.[5] This family is large, diverse, and widely dispersed. At least 1,650 species have been scientifically described,[6] making it one of the largest vertebrate families. New...