less than 1 minute read

Surfperches Cichlids and Relatives: Labroidei

Diet, Behavior And Reproduction, Cichlids, Surfperches, Their Relatives, And People, Conservation StatusPHYSICAL CHARACTERISTICS, GEOGRAPHIC RANGE, HABITAT



BLUESTREAK CLEANER WRASSE (Labroides dimidiatus): SPECIES ACCOUNTS
STRIPED PARROTFISH (Scarus iseri): SPECIES ACCOUNTS
FRESHWATER ANGELFISH (Pterophyllum scalare): SPECIES ACCOUNTS

Cichlids (SIH-cluhds), surfperches, damselfishes, wrasses, parrotfishes, and rock whitings have a second set of jaws in the throat. These fishes have a dorsal fin that extends the length of the fish's back. The dorsal (DOOR-suhl) fin is the one along the midline of the back.



Cichlids live in South America, Africa, Asia, and North America. Surfperches live in coastal areas of the northern part of the Pacific Ocean. Parrotfishes, wrasses, and damselfishes live in the Atlantic, Pacific, and Indian oceans. Rock whitings live in Australia and New Zealand.

Cichlids live in freshwater in lakes, swamps, streams, and rivers, including rapids. Surfperches live in saltwater near sandy beaches, sea grass beds, rocky outcroppings, and piers. Damselfishes, wrasses, parrotfishes, and rock whitings live on reefs, although a few species live in the open sea.

Additional topics

Animal Life ResourceFish and Other Cold-Blooded Vertebrates