Laetacara is a small genus of cichlids native to freshwater habitats in tropical and subtropical South America, ranging from the upper Orinoco River basin in Venezuela to the Paraná River basin, Argentina, including the Amazon Basin from Peru to the Atlantic coast of Brazil and north through the Amapá State to just beyond the border with French Guiana. Linke H, Staeck L (1994) American cichlids I: Dwarf Cichlids. A handbook for their identification, care and breeding. Tetra Press. Germany. The genus is also collectively known as the smiling acaras. Like all cichlids, Laetacara species have well-developed brood care.
All members of the genus are monogamous, open spawning cichlids. They are popular in the fishkeeping hobby and are frequently kept in aquariums. Laetacara are relatively small cichlids, growing to about in length depending on exact species, and are part of the group known to aquarists as dwarf cichlids.
Species There are currently seven recognized species in this genus: Laetacara araguaiae Ottoni & W. J. E. M. Costa, 2009 Laetacara curviceps (C. G. E. Ahl, 1923) (Flag acara) Laetacara dorsigera (Heckel, 1840) (Redbreast acara) Laetacara flamannellus Ottoni et al., 2012 Laetacara flavilabris (Cope, 1870) Laetacara fulvipinnis Staeck & I. Schindler, 2007 Laetacara thayeri (Steindachner, 1875)
See also List of freshwater aquarium fish species
References