Amphilophus viridis
Amphilophus is Greek for amphi = on both sides, lophus = comb, referring to the upper and lower lip of the type species Amphilophus labiatus. “Viridis” is Latin for “green.”
This species was described in 2013 by Rechnagel, Kusche, Elmer & Meyer.
Description
Amhilophus viridis is, for now, the last described Midas cichlid from the Nicaraguan crater lakes. With the emphasis on “tentative” because it is expected that further research in the future, will define more species. Amphilophus viridis closely resembles Amphilophus amarillo (also from Lake Xiloa), to which it is strongly related. Not only do they share origin, but they also have exactly the same physique and markings. Not surprisingly, hobbyists are unable to tell the two apart. On top of that, Amphilophus viridis was traded as Amphilophus amarillo until 2007. Even if the animals had been recognized as “deviant,” there would have been no other option but to label them as Amphilophus amarillo. As a result, the purity of aquarium populations is no longer guaranteed.
But what humans fail to do, fish manage effortlessly. They do recognize each other as two separate species. Indeed, this is what their DNA teaches us. Two distinct, genetic clusters have clearly separated in the group Amphilophus amarillo and Amphilophus viridis. However, this is only possible if the animals mate predominantly assortatively, that is, “with their own species.” For this, the animals do have to be able to distinguish each other as “different,” and they do not seem to have any problem with that. Hybrids do occur, but interbreeding is done by almost all species of Midas and has mainly to do with the age of the new species. The lakes in which these fish occur are still young and so the affinities are great. Amphilophus viridis and Amphilophus amarillo are genetically much closer to each other than to the other two lake Midases, Amphilophus sagittae and Amphilophus xiloaensis.
Closer inspection reveals a few differences even to the practiced human eye. The most important of these is the color. The ground color of Amphilophus amarillo is yellow. That of Amphilophus viridis, as the name suggests, tends more toward “green.” Moreover, the throat region of Amphilophus amarillo turns orange in the mating season and that of Amphilophus viridis does not. Differences can also be observed in foraging behavior. Amphilophus amarillo mainly feeds on snails. Its throat teeth are specially adapted for this purpose and have millstone-shaped (molariform) teeth to crack snail shells. Amphilophus viridis, on the other hand, has a more vegetarian lifestyle, its food consists mainly of algae and plants, and this too has resulted in adapted teeth. Its pharyngeal jaws have a much finer structure (papilliform), designed to break through cell walls of plants or algae.
Only one photo of this fish exists worldwide (at the time of writing). Unfortunately, we were not given permission to post it, so we will have to settle for the link to the first description.
Origin
Nicaragua.
Distribution
The crater Lake Xiloa.
Behavior
Unknown.
Diet
Omnivorous with a natural preference for plant material (algae and plant parts).
Breeding
Unknown, but most likely the same as Amphilophus amarillo.
The Aquarium
There are no aquarium experiences with this fish yet. Although..,
Video
Author
Rene Beerlink – NVC
Copyright drawing
Rene Beerlink – NVC
Reference
Recknagel H. et al. 2013. Two new endemic species in the Midas cichlid species complex from Nicaraguan crater lakes: Amphilophus tolteca and Amphilophus viridis.
Literature
Recknagel H. et al. 2013. Two new endemic species in the Midas cichlid species complex from Nicaraguan crater lakes: Amphilophus tolteca and Amphilophus viridis.
