Green terror
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
 |
||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
|
||||||||||||||
|
Secure
|
||||||||||||||
| Scientific classification | ||||||||||||||
|
||||||||||||||
|
|
||||||||||||||
| Aequidens rivulatus (Günther, 1860) |
The green terror (Aequidens rivulatus) is a colorful freshwater fish in the cichlid family. The fish originate on the Pacific side of South America in the coastal waters from the Tumbes River in Peru to the Esmeraldas River in Ecuador. They reach lengths of 20 cm (8 in).
As the name implies this species can be very aggressive, especially adult specimens. This is not guaranteed, however, and peaceful individuals are often observed. Juvenile green terrors are often sold in pet shops for the aquarium hobby, as well as fish similar enough to be mistaken for this species (including the blue acara, Aequidens pulcher).
The fish is somewhat deep-bodied with a prominent head. Adult males develop a pronounced forehead hump, a common cichlid trait. Juveniles are tan colored with silver-blue flecks and lack the bright iridescent blue, green, and orange coloration and long, flowing fins of adult specimens.
Green terrors natively live in a tropical climate and prefer water with a 6.5–8.0 pH, a water hardness of 25.0 dGH, and a temperature range of 20–24 °C (79–86 °F).
[edit] References
- Aequidens rivulatus (TSN 169839). Integrated Taxonomic Information System. Accessed on June 22, 2005.
- "Aequidens rivulatus". FishBase. Ed. Ranier Froese and Daniel Pauly. May 2005 version. N.p.: FishBase, 2005.
