Crenicichla is a genus of cichlids native to South America, which are one of the genera commonly known as pike cichlids. They are found in most tropical and subtropical freshwater habitats between the Andes and the Atlantic.
Description The smallest species of Crenicichla are no larger than Gottwald, J: Crenicichla arten. and may be referred to as "dwarf cichlids" for the aquarium hobby – though their aggressive and territorial habits make them unsuitable for novice keepers. The smallest members, and formerly the C. wallacii species complex was split off to Wallaciia in 2023, along with the former C. saxatilis complex which became Saxatilia and the C. lugubris complex which became Lugubria. In the same paper, one further genus was erected (Hemeraia) and the remaining species were divided into subgenera. The largest pike cichlids can grow to about long. Most Crenicichla measure in the range of . Like many other predatory fishes, a pike cichlid has a wide mouth and elongated body.
Distribution and ecology The genus Crenicichla is native to freshwater in tropical and subtropical South America east of the Andes, ranging from Trinidad and the Guiana Shield (including Orinoco), through the Amazon and Río de la Plata Basins, south as far as Río Negro in Argentina. Although widespread as a group, the individual species are often restricted to a single river or river basin. They are found in a wide range of habitats, including rivers, streams, pools and lakes; some species are rheophilic.
The vast majority of pike cichlids are predatory and feed on fish, insects, and other small animals. They usually place themselves where they can stay undetected by the prey, like close to a sunken tree stem or behind a rock. This behavior, as well as the correspondingly adapted shape, which resembles that the unrelated pikes (Esocidae) of the Holarctic, gives the pike cichlids their common name. An exception is C. tapii, which is similar in general appearance to other pike cichlids, but unusual for being gregarious and feeding on periphyton.
Species There are currently 45 recognized species in this genus:
Subgenus Batrachops Crenicichla cametana Steindachner, 1911 Crenicichla cyanonotus Cope, 1870 Crenicichla cyclostoma Ploeg, 1986 Crenicichla geayi Pellegrin, 1903 (half-banded pike cichlid) Crenicichla jegui Ploeg, 1986 Crenicichla reticulata (Heckel, 1840) Crenicichla sedentaria S. O. Kullander, 1986 Crenicichla semifasciata (Heckel, 1840) Crenicichla stocki Ploeg, 1991 Subgenus Crenicichla Crenicichla macrophthalma Heckel, 1840 Subgenus Lacustria Crenicichla celidochilus Casciotta, 1987 (black-lipped pike cichlid) Crenicichla empheres C. A. S. de Lucena, 2007 Crenicichla gaucho C. A. S. de Lucena & S. O. Kullander, 1992 Crenicichla gillmorlisi S. O. Kullander & C. A. S. de Lucena, 2013 Crenicichla hadrostigma C. A. S. de Lucena, 2007 Crenicichla haroldoi Luengo & Britski, 1974 Crenicichla hu Piálek, Říčan, Casciotta & Almirón, 2010 Crenicichla igara C. A. S. de Lucena & S. O. Kullander, 1992 Crenicichla iguapina S. O. Kullander & C. A. S. de Lucena, 2006 Crenicichla iguassuensis Haseman, 1911 Crenicichla jaguarensis Haseman, 1911 Crenicichla jupiaensis Britski & Luengo, 1968 Crenicichla jurubi C. A. S. de Lucena & S. O. Kullander, 1992 Crenicichla lacustris (Castelnau, 1855) Crenicichla lucenai Mattos, I. Schindler, Ottoni & Cheffe, 2014 Crenicichla maculata S. O. Kullander & C. A. S. de Lucena, 2006 Crenicichla mandelburgeri S. O. Kullander, 2009 Crenicichla minuano C. A. S. de Lucena & S. O. Kullander, 1992 Crenicichla missioneira C. A. S. de Lucena & S. O. Kullander, 1992 Crenicichla mucuryna R. Ihering (pt), 1914 Crenicichla niederleinii (Holmberg, 1891) nomen dubium Crenicichla prenda C. A. S. de Lucena & S. O. Kullander, 1992 Crenicichla punctata R. F. Hensel, 1870 Crenicichla scottii (C. H. Eigenmann, 1907) Crenicichla taikyra Casciotta, Almirón, Aichino, S. E. Gómez, Piálek, & Říčan, 2013 Crenicichla tapii Piálek, Dragová, Casciotta, Almirón & Říčan, 2015 Crenicichla tendybaguassu C. A. S. de Lucena & S. O. Kullander, 1992 Crenicichla tesay Casciotta & Almirón, 2009 Crenicichla tingui S. O. Kullander & C. A. S. de Lucena, 2006 Crenicichla tuca Piálek, Dragová, Casciotta, Almirón & Říčan, 2015 Crenicichla vittata Heckel, 1840 Crenicichla yaha Casciotta, Almirón & S. E. Gómez, 2006 Crenicichla ypo Casciotta, Almirón, Piálek, S. E. Gómez & Říčan, 2010 Crenicichla zebrina C. G. Montaña, López-Fernández & Taphorn, 2008
In addition to these, several undescribed species are known.
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