Classification / Names
Common names | Synonyms | Catalog of Fishes (gen., sp.) | ITIS | CoL | WoRMS | Cloffa
Actinopterygii (ray-finned fishes) >
Perciformes (Perch-likes) >
Cichlidae (Cichlids) > Geophaginae
Etymology: Satanoperca: Taken from the prince of darkness. Hube liked to name cave fishes with diabolic names based on the idea of hell being underground + Greek, perke = perch (Ref. 45335).
Environment / Climate / Range
Ecology
Freshwater; benthopelagic; pH range: ? - 7.0; dH range: ? - 10. Tropical; 24°C - 27°C (Ref. 2059), preferred ?
South America: Amazon River basin, in the Guaporé River in Brazil and Bolivia; Paraná River basin, in the Paraguay River drainage in Brazil and northern Paraguay (to the Aquidabán River).
Length at first maturity / Size / Weight / Age
Maturity: Lm 8.6  range ? - ? cm
Max length : 19.2 cm SL male/unsexed; (Ref. 81048)
Inhabits streams and lagoons with sandy to muddy bottom. Forages by plunging its protrusible mouth into the sandy or muddy bottom, filling it with sediment, and sorting out food inside the mouth. The bulk of the mouthful is expelled through the opercular openings and the
mouth, producing a cloud of sediment (substrate sifting). This feeding mode leaves a series of pits and mounds on the bottom. Feeds on insect larvae, crustaceans, plant debris and loose scales (Ref. 40396). Discourages piranha attacks by watching the predator, a tactic used when 2-5 fish feed in groups and the individuals take turns as the "watchman". Confronts an approaching piranha by charging towards the predator with an open mouth and erect dorsal fin (Ref. 9080).
Life cycle and mating behavior
Maturity | Reproduction | Spawning | Eggs | Fecundity | Larvae
Ovophile mouth brooders.
Kullander, S.O., 2003. Cichlidae (Cichlids). p. 605-654. In R.E. Reis, S.O. Kullander and C.J. Ferraris, Jr. (eds.) Checklist of the Freshwater Fishes of South and Central America. Porto Alegre: EDIPUCRS, Brasil. (Ref. 36377)
IUCN Red List Status (Ref. 115185)
CITES (Ref. 94142)
Not Evaluated
Threat to humans
Harmless
Human uses
More information
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Estimates of some properties based on models
Phylogenetic diversity index (Ref.
82805): PD
50 = 0.5039 [Uniqueness, from 0.5 = low to 2.0 = high].
Bayesian length-weight: a=0.02239 (0.00860 - 0.05828), b=3.03 (2.81 - 3.25), in cm Total Length, based on LWR estimates for this (Sub)family-body shape (Ref.
93245).
Trophic Level (Ref.
69278): 2.8 ±0.34 se; Based on food items.
Resilience (Ref.
69278): High, minimum population doubling time less than 15 months (Preliminary K or Fecundity.).
Vulnerability (Ref.
59153): Low vulnerability (12 of 100) .