Gymnogeophagus sp. 'Yi'

Introduction: An undescribed, but occasionally collected species from central Uruguay. This species is similar to Gg. gymnogenys.

Scientific Name: Gymnogeophagus sp. 'Yi'

Etymology: "Gymno"is the Greek word for "naked", referring to the typical lack of scales on the heads of fishes of the Cichlidae family. Geophagus is derived from the Greek word "Gea" meaning "Earth", and the Greek word "Phagein" meaning "to eat". "Yi" refers to the Rio Yi in which it is endemic.

Synonyms: None.

Distribution: This species is found in the Rio Yi in Central Uruguay.

Physical Description: Very similar to Gg. gymnogenys in both body shape and color.

Size: mm.

Water Parameters: pH: 6.0-7.0
Hardness: Low-Moderate
Temperature: 70-74 Degrees. This species will require a wintering period.

Recommended Tank Size: 40-50 Gallons is sufficient for one breeding pair.

Breeding: Similar to other species within the genus, Gg. sp. 'Yi' begins breeding after a 3 month cooling period. This species is a delayed maternal mouthbrooder.

Original Description: N/A

Photos:

Gymnogeophagus che

Introduction:

Scientific Name: Gymnogeophagus che

Etymology: "Gymno"is the Greek word for "naked", referring to the typical lack of scales on the heads of fishes of the Cichlidae family. Geophagus is derived from the Greek word "Gea" meaning "Earth", and the Greek word "Phagein" meaning "to eat".

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Size: 120 mm.

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Original Description:

Gymnogeophagus setequedas

Introduction:

Scientific Name: Gymnogeophagus setequedas

Etymology: "Gymno"is the Greek word for "naked", referring to the typical lack of scales on the heads of fishes of the Cichlidae family. Geophagus is derived from the Greek word "Gea" meaning "Earth", and the Greek word "Phagein" meaning "to eat".

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Size: mm.

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Original Description:

Gymnogeophagus lacustris

Introduction:

Scientific Name: Gymnogeophagus lacustris

Etymology: "Gymno"is the Greek word for "naked", referring to the typical lack of scales on the heads of fishes of the Cichlidae family. Geophagus is derived from the Greek word "Gea" meaning "Earth", and the Greek word "Phagein" meaning "to eat".

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Size: mm.

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Original Description:

Gymnogeophagus meridionalis

Introduction:

Scientific Name: Gymnogeophagus meridionalis

Etymology: "Gymno"is the Greek word for "naked", referring to the typical lack of scales on the heads of fishes of the Cichlidae family. Geophagus is derived from the Greek word "Gea" meaning "Earth", and the Greek word "Phagein" meaning "to eat".

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Size: mm.

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Original Description:

Gymnogeophagus australis

Introduction:

Scientific Name: Gymnogeophagus australis

Etymology: "Gymno"is the Greek word for "naked", referring to the typical lack of scales on the heads of fishes of the Cichlidae family. Geophagus is derived from the Greek word "Gea" meaning "Earth", and the Greek word "Phagein" meaning "to eat".

Synonyms: Gg. australe

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Size: mm.

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Gymnogeophagus labiatus

Introduction:

Scientific Name: Gymnogeophagus labiatus

Etymology: "Gymno"is the Greek word for "naked", referring to the typical lack of scales on the heads of fishes of the Cichlidae family. Geophagus is derived from the Greek word "Gea" meaning "Earth", and the Greek word "Phagein" meaning "to eat".

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Size: mm.

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Original Description:

Gymnogeophagus gymnogenys

Introduction:

Scientific Name: Gymnogeophagus gymnogenys

Etymology: "Gymno"is the Greek word for "naked", referring to the typical lack of scales on the heads of fishes of the Cichlidae family. Geophagus is derived from the Greek word "Gea" meaning "Earth", and the Greek word "Phagein" meaning "to eat".

Synonyms: Geophagus pygmaeus (Junior), Geophagus camurus (Junior), Geophagus gymnogenys (senior)

Distribution: Endemic to Southern Brazil, Northern Argentina and parts of Uruguay.

Physical Description:

Size: 150 mm.

Water Parameters: pH: 6.0-7.0
Hardness: Low-Moderate
Temperature: 70-74 Degrees. This species will require a wintering period.

Recommended Tank Size:

Breeding: Gg. gymnogenys is a delayed maternal mouthbrooder.

Original Description:

Gymnogeophagus rhabdotus

Introduction:

Scientific Name: Gymnogeophagus rhabdotus

Etymology: "Gymno"is the Greek word for "naked", referring to the typical lack of scales on the heads of fishes of the Cichlidae family. Geophagus is derived from the Greek word "Gea" meaning "Earth", and the Greek word "Phagein" meaning "to eat".

Synonyms: Geophagus rhabdotus (Senior), Geophagus brachyurus (Junior)

Distribution: This species inhabits areas of southern Brazil, Argentina, and Uruguay

Physical Description:

Size: 120 mm.

Water Parameters: Ph: 7-8
Hardness: Low-Moderate
Temperature: 70-74 Degrees. This species will require a wintering period.

Recommended Tank Size:

Breeding: This species, unlike many other species in the genus, spawns on a substrate and does not perform any form of mouthbrooding.

Original Description:

Gymnogeophagus balzanii

Introduction: Described as Geophagus balzanii by Perugia in 1891. This species went through a number of revisions before being placed in the Gymnogeophagus genus in 1918 by Miranda Ribeiro. Gg. balzanii is a high bodied Gymnogeophagine, with males developing a large prominent nuchal hump.

Scientific Name: Gymnogeophagus balzanii

Etymology: "Gymno"is the Greek word for "naked", referring to the typical lack of scales on the heads of fishes of the Cichlidae family. Geophagus is derived from the Greek word "Gea" meaning "Earth", and the Greek word "Phagein" meaning "to eat".

Synonyms: Geophagus balzanii Perugia (Senior), Geophagus duodecimspinosus Boulenger (Junior), Gymnogeophagus cyanopterus Ribeiro (Junior).

Distribution: Gg. balzanii possess the largest distribution among the Gymnogeophagines. Endemic to Uruguay, Northern Argentina, Southern Brazil, Bolivia, and Paraguay.

Physical Description: The body of this species is slightly atypical for Gymnogeophagines, being fairly high, with a very prominent nuchal hump in males. More than 12 dark vertical bars can be observed in some specimens, while not at all in others, likely due to collection point. Yellow or Gold coloration can be seen in the throat, and Pectoral Fin areas. Directly behind the operculum often an area containing iridophores. A large dark spot can be observed slightly below the upper lateral line, in approximately the mid-dorsal area.

Size: 170mm.

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Breeding: Delayed maternal mouthbrooder.

Original Description: N/A

Gymnogeophagus caaguazuensis

Introduction: Originally described by Wolfgang Staeck in 2006, Gymnogeophagus caaguazuensis is the most recent species addition to the Gymnogeophagus genus. This species possesses the typical Geophagus/Gymnogeophagus body shape. Sporting a slight nuchal hump with age.

Scientific Name: Gymnogeophagus caaguazuensis

Etymology: "Gymno"is the Greek word for "naked", referring to the typical lack of scales on the heads of fishes of the Cichlidae family. Geophagus is derived from the Greek word "Gea" meaning "Earth", and the Greek word "Phagein" meaning "to eat". Caaguazuensis is derived from the province of Caaguazu in Paraguay where this species is endemic.

Synonyms: none

Distribution: Native to the lower Rio Paraguay in Caaguazu province, Paraguay.

Physical Description: This species sports a typical Gymnogeophagus/Geophagus body shape, showing a small nuchal hump with age. See original description below for more a more in-depth description.

Size: 60-85mm.

Water Parameters: pH: 7.0-8.0
Hardness: Low-Moderate
Temperature: 70-74 Degrees. This species will require a wintering period.

Note: In Staecks description of this species. Water samples during the dry season measured a pH of 7.9. During the dry season will be when the ph is highest. The rainy season, most likely time for breeding activity, will likely have a lower pH reading. Thus, a lower pH and softer water should be used for breeding purposes.

Recommended Tank Setup: A pair of this species should be housed in a 20-30 gallon aquarium, furnished with a fine sand substrate and large river stones.

Breeding: Gg. caaguazuensis, like a number of other species in the genus, are delayed maternal mouthbrooders. Meaning they begin breeding similar to a substrate spawning cichlid, by selecting and cleaning a spawning site. Once the eggs are laid, the parents tend to them until just prior to their hatching. At which time the female will pick them up in her mouth and begin the mouthbrooding stage.

Original Description:

Abstract:

Gymnogeophagus caaguazuensis sp. n. is described from the drainage of the upper
río Tebicuary-mi in the province of Caaguazú in Paraguay. It can be distinguished from all other described Gymnogeophagus species by the following combination of characters: body deep, caudal peduncle short, caudal fi n of males lyreate, 26–28 scales in a lateral line and small size.

Link to Full paper:
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