Bergmann and Motta (2005) evaluated diet and morphology through ontogeny (i.e., an individual's development through time) for a freshwater population of the Mayan cichlid in Florida’s Big Cypress National Preserve. This species is a generalist predator throughout ontogeny. Fish remained the primary prey item throughout ontogeny, but there was a shift from detritus and ostracods among juveniles to algae, gastropods (snails), decapods, Hymenoptera, and adult Diptera among adults. All morphological variables grew isometrically except total molariform tooth area and pharyngeal jaw mass, which exhibited positive allometry. Despite a moderately robust adult pharyngeal jaw apparatus, this species does not specialize on hard prey at this south Florida site. Compared to its native range in Mexico, the Florida fish have undergone a distinct niche shift with the diet being dominated by fish and snails (rather than detritus, as in Mexico), probably due to greater availability. The invasive success of the Mayan Cichlid does not appear to be related to ontogenetic morphological shifts or dietary specialization. Rather, its successful and rapid colonization of southern Florida might in part be related to its generalized and opportunistic feeding habits and morphology. (Bergmann and Motta 2005)
The Mayan Cichlid (Cichlasoma urophthalmus) is a moderate-sized cichlid fish (to about 30 cm) native to the Atlantic Slope from Rio Coatzcoalcos, Mexico, to the Rio Prinzapolka, Nicaragua. It is now well established as an exotic species in southern Florida as well (one of numerous species of exotic cichlids now established in Florida). It is found in freshwater marshes and mangrove swamps, tolerating a wide range of salinity and breeding in both fresh and salt water. (Page and Burr 1991).
Measurements of growth rates for Mayan Cichlids from Florida were significantly lower than rates previously reported for this species from a reportedly overfished population in Mexico, a difference that, if real, might be attributable to differences in fishing intensity (with intense fishing pressure favoring local evolution of a life history involving faster growth and a shorter lifespan) or differences in climate (Faunce et al. 2002). Faunce and Lorenz (2000) compared their data on the reproductive biology of the Mayan Cichlid in Florida with previous work in Mexico and found that size at maturity appeared to be significantly greater in their Florida study than in previous studies in Mexico, which they suggested might also be attributed to fishing pressure on large individuals favoring sexual maturity and reproduction at a smaller size in heavily fished Mexican populations.
The Mayan Cichlid (Cichlasoma urophthalmus) is native to the Atlantic Slope from Rio Coatzcoalcos, Mexico, to the Rio Prinzapolka, Nicaragua; it is also now well established as an exotic species in Florida (Page and Burr 1991).
The presence of the exotic Mayan cichild (Cichlasoma urophthalmus) was first confirmed in Florida in 1983 from Everglades National Park (Loftus 1987), when numerous individuals were found in northeastern Florida Bay. Since then, this species has continued to expand its range northward. Between 2004 and 2008 large numbers of Mayan cichlid were captured from central Florida's east and west coast mangrove systems north of 28 degrees north latitude. Mayan cichlids in a wide range of sizes (estimated ages 0-7 years) at both east and west coast sites were collected. In addition, macroscopic examination of gonads showed the presence of developing eggs. The occurrence of multiple age-classes, maturing individuals, cichild nests, and juveniles, plus repeated collections over a four-year period, indicates that the Mayan cichlid is successfully reproducing and surviving the average winter temperatures in some estuarine waters in central Florida, extending its known range from southern Florida. (Paperno et al. 2008; see also Adams and Wolfe 2007)
The Mayan Cichlid (Cichlasoma urophthalmus) occurs in freshwater marshes and mangrove swamps. It has a broad salinity tolerance and breeds in both fresh and salt water. (Page and Burr 1991)
Faunce et al. (2002) reported a maximum documented age of 7 years.
In southern Florida, the Mayan Cichlid (Cichlasoma urophthalmus) can be confused with another exotic from Central America, the Midas Cichlid (Cichlasoma citrinellum). The Mayan Cichlid has a blue halo around a large black blotch on the upper caudal (tail) fin base (the spot being about half the depth of the caudal peduncle), whereas the Midas Cichlid has a relatively small black spot on the caudal fin base. (Page and Burr 1991)
The Mayan Cichlid (Cichlasoma urophthalmus) has 5 to 7 bold dark green to black bars on its side and a blue halo around a large black blotch on the upper caudal (tail) fin base (this spot is about half the depth of the caudal penduncle). It is olive green above and on the side, with red edging on the dorsal and caudal fins and red on the chin, throat, and breast. The iris is yellow. There are 5 to 7 anal spines. (Page and Burr 1991)
Faunce and Lorenz (2000) studied the reproductive biology of the Mayan cichlid (Cichlasoma urophthalmus) in a southern Florida mangrove creek. Most nests were observed along mangrove shorelines in April. The majority of reproduction and parental care of the young followed in May, and was completed by June when rising water levels flooded shallow habitats and dispersed young-of-year fish. Mayan cichlids in this study became reproductively mature at a greater size than in previous studies in Mexico, within the native range (possibly because fishing intensity on large individuals in parts of its native range favors a life history with sexual maturity at a smaller size), but produced roughly the same number of eggs at a given body mass. The similarity of environmental conditions between southern Florida and areas where Mayan cichlids naturally occur to the south has facilitated their establishment in the region. (Faunce and Lorenz 2000)
In its native distribution in Central America, the Mayan Cichlid is exploited commercially in artisanal fisheries and aquaculture. In its introduced range in Florida, this species supports a small sport fishery because it is edible, attractive, and aggressively takes baits and artificial lures. Because it takes artificial baits and fights hard on light tackle, it can interfere with the pursuit of larger gamefishes such as the Common Snook (Centropomus undecimalis). In some areas, the Mayan Cichlid is the most common fish caught by recreational anglers and is targeted by subsistence anglers as well. (Faunce et al. 2002 and references therein)
Mayaheros urophthalmus, also known as the Mayan cichlid or Mexican mojarra is a species of cichlid.
Previously, this species was a member of the genus Cichlasoma and the subgeneric section Nandopsis. However, the genus Cichlasoma is in revision and has been restricted to the 12 species of South American cichlids related to Cichlasoma bimaculatum. Thus, many of the approximately 100 species that were formerly members of Cichlasoma have yet to be formally assigned to a new genus.[1]
This species can be found in Middle America. It is native to the Atlantic slope of tropical Mesoamerica, ranging from eastern Mexico southward to Nicaragua.[2] It was first recorded from Everglades National Park, Florida in 1983 and is now a common nonindigenous fish in South Florida.[3]
The Mayan cichlid inhabits freshwater marshes, mangrove swamps, lakes, rivers, rocky shorelines, lagoons, estuaries, and coastal islands. Adults prefer coastal lagoons and rivers and may survive in marine conditions.[4] It can be found in oxygen-rich areas near submerged vegetation and over muddy substrates. Despite its preference for waters with dissolved oxygen content of at least 3.5 mg/L, though, it is capable of surviving in extreme hypoxia, because it is an oxygen conformer, becoming much less active in hypoxic water, and even surviving virtual anoxia for up to two hours.[5] Unusually, this fish has been recorded in some cenotes in the Yucatan Peninsula.
Mayaheros urophthalmus reaches a maximum length of 39.4 cm.[4] This fish is one of the larger cichlids. The body is oval and flattened on the sides and the head is tapering towards the mouth. Fins are spiny. It has a base color of yellow-brown to gray-brown in most cases, that becomes intense red during breeding. The head and throat are reddish, especially in younger fish. The caudal fin and the soft-sections of the dorsal and anal fin are usually more or less reddish. Six wide green-black vertical stripes run across the sides of the body between the base of the pectoral fin and the base of the caudal fin. There is a large black eye spot circled with blue-green on the tail stem (hence the species scientific name urophthalmus (from oura, Greek for tail and ophthalmos, Greek for eye).[6] Since the distribution area of the species is relatively large, this species may occurs in different colors, which may differ from the one described above.
In its native range, the Mayan cichlid is a popular food fish. For this reason it is the basis of a regional fishery, is commonly used in aquaculture. As in many animals, the red color is much more brilliant in wild specimens than captive ones, but one can help maintain some of its vibrance by feeding the fish live foods and foods that contain Vitamin A, which breaks down into the red pigment beta-carotene in the body.
It is among the most-studied of the Neotropical cichlids.[7] To date, the Mayan cichlid has been most intensively studied at localities in southeastern Mexico on or near the Yucatan Peninsula.[5]
The Mayan cichlid is philopatric, or site tenacious, i.e. - individuals are non-migratory and prefer to stay within a home range.[8] The Mayan cichlid has a minimum temperature requirement of about 14 degrees Celsius.[9] In its native range, it inhabits waters with temperatures from 18 - 34 degrees Celsius, but its optimal temperature range is 28 - 33 °C.[10]
The Mayan cichlid is capable of surviving in a variety of conditions. It is euryhaline and can survive in a range of salinity from 0 - 40 ppt.[7] Experiments on captive specimens have shown that it can tolerate abrupt increases in salinity of up to 15 ppt.[11] The Mayan cichlid has a broad range of tolerance to abiotic conditions and a broad functional repertoire to enable it to feed on about 20% of evasive prey due to its 6.8% jaw protrusion while feeding.[12]
This species is also a dietary generalist, consuming organisms from a variety of disparate taxa.[13] However, it is susceptible to malnourishment, apparently due to the requirement that a relatively large proportion of its diet be animal prey.[7] The Mayan cichlid's diet includes plant matter, smaller fish, algae, detritus, snails, crustaceans, and insects.[14][15]
The Mayan cichlid is territorial and aggressive when breeding.[4] As parents, Mayan cichlids are highly protective of their young, and they have several broods per year. This species is a monogamous, biparental substrate spawner that exhibits minimal sexual dimorphism and guards its fry for up to six weeks. All of these traits are greatly developed and represent an extreme in the general pattern found in the genus Mayaheros. In Mexico, the Mayan cichlid spawns for a nine-month period from March to November, particularly during the wet season from June to September. This corresponds to a period when the water temperature is at least 24 degrees Celsius.[7] Multiple broods are raised per year. The fry appear to be adapted to lotic water. They exhibit strongly positive geotactic behavior, actively swimming down to the substrate upon hatching from the egg and adhering themselves to the bottom by means of three pairs of mucous glands.[7]
