Malawi Chiclids

What Is an African Cichlid? 

All cichlids are members of the biological family Cichlidae. Scientists have a hard time estimating the number of genera and species in this family because new ones are constantly being discovered while others go extinct.

There are at least 140 different genera and upward of 2,000 species spread across a limited number of habitats. Across the globe, cichlids are found in a handful of countries, including: 

• Africa
• Cuba
• India
• Sri Lanka
• Many South American countries

There’s even one cichlid species that’s native to the U.S., and 44 others have been introduced by human activities. 

Each cichlid species is typically found in one small area of the world — usually a single lake or a slow-flowing part of one river. Each genus is, for the most part, restricted to a single continent. 

This high amount of species diversity in a small area is an example of endemism, a unique biological phenomenon. Cichlids also have a shockingly fast rate of speciation — the formation of new, distinct species. These are just two of the reasons why scientists are fascinated by cichlids.  

Within this family, African cichlids represent the most diverse branch of the tree. They’re all found in the Crenicichla genus. They’re mostly found in three freshwater lakes: 

• Lake Malawi
• Lake Victoria
• Lake Tanganyika