Lake Malawi, Lake Victoria, and Lake Tanganyika in East Africa
Size: 5-8 inches
Lifespan: 8-12 years
Diet: Algae, biofilm, aquatic plants
Cichlids are one of the largest families of fish, with more than 1,600 described species. New species are discovered annually, with scientists estimating there may be as many as 3,000 cichlid species. Many unique species of cichlid only live in Africa's Lake Victoria. Unfortunately, more than half of Lake Victoria's cichlid species are either endangered or extinct due to invasive species and overfishing.
Types
Fish