Geophagus
Geophagus is a genus of cichlids that mainly live in South America as far south as Argentina and Uruguay, but a single species, G. crassilabris is from Panama. They are found in a wide range of freshwater habitats. They are part of a group popularly known as eartheaters and mostly feed by picking up mouthfuls of sediment to sift out food items such as invertebrates, plant material and detritus. The largest species reach up to in standard length. They are mostly kept in aquariums.
Geophagus “surinamensis” was an invasive species in Malaysia, recently found in Putrajaya, the populations are now controlled by giant snakeheads.
Taxonomy
Some cichlids previously included in this genus have been reallocated to Biotodoma, Gymnogeophagus or Satanoperca. Even with these as separate genera, Geophagus is currently polyphyletic and in need of further taxonomic revision. There are three main groups:Geophagus sensu stricto are mostly relatively peaceful, often have long fin extensions and are native to the Amazon, Orinoco and Parnaíba basins, as well as rivers of the Guianas. This group can be divided into two subgroups: The first is the G. surinamensis complex, which includes most species The second subgroup contains G. argyrostictus, G. gottwaldi, G. grammepareius, G. harreri and G. taeniopareius, which are somewhat less peaceful and can be separated from the G. surinamensis complex by their dark stripe below the eye.G. brasiliensis complex are more robust and aggressive species found in river basins of eastern and southeastern Brazil, Uruguay and northeastern Argentina.G. steindachneri complex found west of the Andes in northern and western Colombia, northwestern Venezuela and Panama where adult males develop a distinct, bulbous red forehead.
Species
There are currently 33 recognized species in this genus.Geophagus abalios López-Fernández & Taphorn, 2004Geophagus altifrons Heckel, 1840Geophagus argyrostictus S. O. Kullander, 1991Geophagus brachybranchus S. O. Kullander & Nijssen, 1989Geophagus brasiliensis Geophagus brokopondo S. O. Kullander & Nijssen, 1989Geophagus camopiensis Pellegrin, 1903 Geophagus crassilabris Steindachner, 1876 Geophagus crocatus Hauser & López-Fernández, 2013Geophagus diamantinensis Mattos, W. J. E. M. Costa & A. C. A. Santos, 2015Geophagus dicrozoster López-Fernández & Taphorn, 2004Geophagus gottwaldi I. Schindler & Staeck, 2006Geophagus grammepareius S. O. Kullander & Taphorn, 1992Geophagus harreri J. P. Gosse, 1976 Geophagus iporangensis Haseman, 1911Geophagus itapicuruensis Haseman, 1911Geophagus megasema Heckel, 1840Geophagus mirabilis Deprá, S. O. Kullander, Pavanelli & da Graça, 2014Geophagus multiocellus Mattos & W. J. E. M. Costa, 2018Geophagus neambi P. H. L. Lucinda, C. A. S. de Lucena & Assis, 2010Geophagus obscurus Geophagus parnaibae Staeck & I. Schindler, 2006Geophagus pellegrini Regan, 1912 Geophagus pirangaensis Assis, Dergam, Cunha, Machado, Hrbek, Vicente, Queiroz et Henschel, 2026 Geophagus proximus Geophagus pyrineusi Deprá, Ohara & Silva, 2022Geophagus pyrocephalus Chuctaya et al., 2022Geophagus rufomarginatus Mattos & W. J. E. M. Costa, 2018Geophagus santosi Mattos & W. J. E. M. Costa, 2018Geophagus steindachneri C. H. Eigenmann & Hildebrand, 1922 Geophagus surinamensis Geophagus sveni P. H. F. Lucinda, C. A. S. de Lucena & Assis, 2010Geophagus taeniopareius S. O. Kullander & Royero-L., 1992Geophagus winemilleri López-Fernández & Taphorn, 2004