Firemouth Cichlid

The firemouth cichlid (Thorichthys meeki) is a species of cichlid fish native to Central America. They occur in rivers of the Yucatán Peninsula, Mexico, south through Belize and into northern Guatemala.

Their natural habitat is typically shallow, slow-moving, often turbid, water with a pH of 6.5 - 8.0. It has also been reported to live in cave systems. As fish with a tropical distribution, firemouth cichlids live in warm water with a temperature range of 23–30 °C (73–86 °F). The common name "firemouth" is derived from the bright orange-red colouration on the underside of the jaw, while the specific epithet meeki honors American ichthyologist Seth Eugene Meek. Males in particular flare out their gills, exposing their red throats, in a threat display designed to ward off male rivals from their territory.