Description

Dorsal spines (total): 8 - 9; Dorsal soft rays (total): 12; Anal spines: 3; Anal soft rays: 8. This large-sized species of Geophagus (largest type 19.8 cm SL), differs from its congeners in having the following characters: a well developed and complete infraorbital stripe; rectangular midlateral spot; entire caudal fin with large irregularly arranged light roundish spots; a comparatively high number of dorsal fin spines (XVIII or XIX ); 34 -36 scales in E1 row (Ref. 78437).

Common Names

No common names available.

Taxonomic Hierarchy

Kingdom: Animalia

Phylum: Chordata

Class: Teleostei

Order: Cichliformes

Family: Cichlidae

Genus: Geophagus

Species: Geophagus gottwaldi Schindler & Staeck, 2006

Climate Zone

Location

Biology

This species apparently prefers bare sandy bottoms among rocky areas in the black water tributaries of the upper Orinoco, and which may have a remarkably strong current. Water data collected in January at a collecting site: pH 4.5; electrical conductivity 10 μS/cm; temperature 28°C. The type locality at río Sipapo has brownish water, moderately clear with pH 5.15 and a temperature of 29.5 °C. Reported associated fish fauna includes Aequidens sp. 'Atabapo', Biotodoma wavrini, Crenicichla sp. 'Atabapo', Laetacara sp. 'Orangefl ossen', Heros severus, Mesonauta insignis, and several characid and siluroid species (Ref. 78437).

Habitat

benthopelagic