Apistogramma
Apistogramma is a large genus of freshwater fish in the family Cichlidae native to South America, but also commonly kept in aquariums. They are dwarf cichlids that mostly feed on tiny animals and have breeding behaviors that vary depending on the exact species.
Apistogramma are exclusively found in tropical and subtropical South America in the lowlands east of the Andes. The highest richness is in the western Amazon Basin and Orinoco Basin, but there are also species in the Guianan Shield, eastern Amazon Basin, rivers flowing into the Atlantic in northern Brazil and the Río de la Plata Basin. Although a few species are widespread, most members of this genus have small ranges. Few members of the genus have been evaluated by the IUCN, mostly either ranking as least concern or data deficient, but some of the highly localized Apistogramma species likely are threatened. Primary threats to their survival are deforestation and pollution.
Apistogramma generally inhabit streams, or edges of rivers or lakes. Most prefer sheltered habitats with leaf litter on the bottom in water with little movement and a shallow depth, up to about, although a few species occur deeper, in fast-flowing water, in more open habitats or at the surface among floating plants.
Appearance
Apistogramma are dwarf cichlids with adults reaching between in standard length depending on species. Most species are strongly sexually dimorphic, with males generally larger than females and possessing different color patterns than the females ; in a few species this pattern is reversed or the sexes are rather similar. Additionally, they often change color depending on behavior, for example when looking for food, breeding or during aggressive encounters. A few species, including A. agassizii, A. cacatuoides, A hongsloi and A. macmasteri, have been selectively bred by aquarists to achieve brighter colors than the natural, wild forms.
Behavior
Apistogramma are omnivores, but tending towards micropredatory. Their main food items consist of aquatic insect larvae and other small invertebrates, fish fry, algae and plant debris.
Brood care is highly developed, as in most cichlids. Nearly all Apistogramma species spawn in crevices, typically in holes in sunken logs or branches, or in leaf litter aggregations. A number of breeding strategies exist in the genus. Some species breed in polygamous harems, while other species form monogamous pairs. Three of the described species, A. barlowi, A. megastoma and A. pantalone, practice mouthbrooding, either by both parents or only by the female. In most cases, regardless of the breeding strategy, the female is more highly involved with care of the eggs and fry, whilst the male defends a territory from predators. The sex of the fry is affected by the water conditions: In all species where it has been studied warmer water results in more males and in some species more acidic water also results in more males.
Taxonomy and species
Apistogramma is part of Geophagini and its closest relatives are Apistogrammoides and Taeniacara. There are currently 93 recognized Apistogramma species, making it the most species-rich genus of cichlid in the Americas, together with Crenicichla. New species of Apistogramma are regularly described, and undescribed species—sometimes cryptic—are known to exist in the genus. Several of the recognized species occur in more than one form, and some of these actually may represent separate species, as appears to be the case for the "Papagayo" and "Pebás" forms, both typically included in A. ortegai. A comprehensive taxonomic review of the genus is necessary. The genus is sometimes divided into subgroups based on the appearance and phylogenetic relationship of the various species.Apistogramma acrensis Staeck, 2003Apistogramma agassizii Apistogramma aguarico Römer & Hahn, 2013Apistogramma alacrina S. O. Kullander, 2004Apistogramma allpahuayo Römer et. al, 2012Apistogramma amoena Apistogramma angayuara S. O. Kullander & E. F. G. Ferreira, 2005Apistogramma arua Römer & Warzel, 1998Apistogramma atahualpa Römer, 1997Apistogramma baenschi Römer, Hahn, Römer, Soares & Wöhler, 2004Apistogramma barlowi Römer & Hahn, 2008Apistogramma bitaeniata Pellegrin, 1936Apistogramma borellii Apistogramma brevis S. O. Kullander, 1980Apistogramma cacatuoides Hoedeman, 1951 Apistogramma caetei S. O. Kullander, 1980Apistogramma caudomaculata Mesa_Salazar & Lasso, 2011Apistogramma cinilabra Römer et. al, 2011Apistogramma commbrae Apistogramma cruzi S. O. Kullander, 1986Apistogramma diplotaenia S. O. Kullander, 1987Apistogramma eleutheria Varella & Britzke, 2016 Apistogramma elizabethae S. O. Kullander, 1980Apistogramma eremnopyge Ready & S. O. Kullander, 2004Apistogramma erythrura Staeck & I. Schindler, 2008Apistogramma eunotus S. O. Kullander, 1981Apistogramma feconat Römer et. al, 2015Apistogramma flabellicauda Mesa-Salazar & Lasso, 2011Apistogramma flavipedunculata Varella & Britzke, 2016Apistogramma geisleri Meinken, 1971Apistogramma gephyra S. O. Kullander, 1980Apistogramma gibbiceps Meinken, 1969Apistogramma gossei S. O. Kullander, 1982Apistogramma guttata Antonio C., S. O. Kullander & Lasso A., 1989Apistogramma helkeri Schindler & Staeck, 2013Apistogramma hippolytae S. O. Kullander, 1982Apistogramma hoignei Meinken, 1965Apistogramma hongsloi S. O. Kullander, 1979Apistogramma huascar Römer, Pretor & Hahn, 2006Apistogramma inconspicua S. O. Kullander, 1983Apistogramma iniridae S. O. Kullander, 1979Apistogramma inornata Staeck, 2003Apistogramma intermedia Mesa-Salazar & Lasso, 2011Apistogramma juruensis S. O. Kullander, 1986Apistogramma kullanderi Varella & Sabaj Pérez, 2014Apistogramma lineata Mesa-Salazar & Lasso, 2011Apistogramma linkei Koslowski, 1985Apistogramma luelingi S. O. Kullander, 1976Apistogramma macmasteri S. O. Kullander, 1979Apistogramma martini Römer, Hahn, Römer, Soares & Wöhler, 2003Apistogramma megaptera Mesa Salazar & Lasso, 2011Apistogramma megastoma Römer et. al, 2017Apistogramma meinkeni S. O. Kullander, 1980Apistogramma mendezi U. Römer, 1994Apistogramma minima Mesa S. & Lasso A., 2011Apistogramma moae S. O. Kullander, 1980Apistogramma nijsseni S. O. Kullander, 1979Apistogramma norberti Staeck, 1991Apistogramma nororientalis Mesa-Salazar & Lasso, 2011Apistogramma ortegai Britzke, C. de Oliveira & S. O. Kullander, 2014Apistogramma ortmanni Apistogramma panduro U. Römer, 1997Apistogramma pantalone Römer, Römer, Soares & Hahn, 2006Apistogramma paucisquamis S. O. Kullander & Staeck, 1988Apistogramma paulmuelleri Römer et. al, 2013Apistogramma payaminonis S. O. Kullander, 1986Apistogramma pedunculata Mesa-Salazar & Lasso, 2011Apistogramma personata S. O. Kullander, 1980Apistogramma pertensis Apistogramma piaroa Mesa-Salazar & Lasso, 2011Apistogramma piauiensis S. O. Kullander, 1980Apistogramma playayacu Römer, Beninde & Hahn, 2011Apistogramma pleurotaenia Apistogramma psammophila Staeck & Schindler, 2019Apistogramma pulchra S. O. Kullander, 1980Apistogramma regani S. O. Kullander, 1980Apistogramma resticulosa S. O. Kullander, 1980Apistogramma rositae Römer, Römer & Hahn, 2006Apistogramma rubrolineata Hein, Zarske & Zapata, 2002Apistogramma rupununi Fowler, 1914Apistogramma salpinction S. O. Kullander & E. F. G. Ferreira, 2005Apistogramma similis Staeck, 2003Apistogramma sororcula Staeck & Schindler, 2016Apistogramma staecki Koslowski, 1985Apistogramma steindachneri Apistogramma taeniata Apistogramma trifasciata Apistogramma tucurui Staeck, 2003Apistogramma uaupesi S. O. Kullander, 1980Apistogramma urteagai S. O. Kullander, 1986Apistogramma velifera Staeck, 2003Apistogramma viejita S. O. Kullander, 1979Apistogramma wapisana U. Römer, Hahn & Conrad, 2006Apistogramma wolli Römer et. al, 2015