Meyer's basketmouth cichlid
Caquetaia myersi
Where at Shedd?
Amazon Rising
| Diet | Fishes and fish scales, terrestrial plant seeds and small aquatic insects called zoobenthos from the river bottom |
|---|---|
| Size | Length: Up to 7.5 inches (19 cm) |
| Type | Fishes |
| Range | Amazon River basin in Colombia and Ecuador, Northwestern South America |
| Habitat | Edges of rivers with vegetation |
Did you know?
- The Meyer’s basketmouth cichlid gets its name from its protrusible mouth structure which is capable of being protruded or extended. This ambush predator sits and waits for unsuspecting prey then “throws” its outer jaws at its prey while at the same time expanding its mouth which creates a suction and sucks the prey into its mouth.
- Cichlids are protective parents. They guard the young for several weeks, even once they can swim on their own.