Cichla monoculus (Cichla monoculus) is a freshwater species recorded in the United States.
Scientific name: Cichla monoculus · Water: Freshwater
Size: up to 70 cm
Cichla monoculus is a benthopelagic cichlid of fresh water, found in South America in the Rio Solimões-Amazonas along the main channel and the lower courses of its tributaries, in Peru, Colombia and Brazil, including the Araguari and lower Oyapock rivers north of the Amazon. It forays along the shore where small fishes may be concentrated; juveniles feed on shrimps while adults are almost exclusively piscivorous, and it is oviparous. Males are sexually mature after one year and females after two, and during reproduction, which is not markedly seasonal, large males develop a frontal hump and become territorial. Maximum length is about 70 cm standard length. It is a minor commercial species, a gamefish and is kept in public aquariums. Fishing vulnerability is moderate at 44 of 100 and resilience medium. IUCN lists it as least concern.
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