Cichlids

fish · super diverse · colorful · freshwater

Massive fish family. Cichlids are one of the biggest families of vertebrate fish in the world, with at least 1,760 species already discovered and scientists finding new ones every year.

Found everywhere. These fish live naturally in Africa, South America, the Middle East, and Asia, and humans have introduced some species to many other parts of the world too.

Still discovering more. Scientists think there could be between 2,000 and 3,000 cichlid species total, but many species haven't been officially described yet, so the real number remains a mystery.

Super varied group. Cichlids come in different shapes, sizes, and colors because they adapted to live in many different environments, from small streams to massive lakes.