Uaru

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Uaru

Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Actinopterygii
Order:	Perciformes
Family:	Cichlidae
Genus:	Uaru Heckel, 1840

Species

Uaru amphiacanthoides
Uaru fernandezyepezi

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Uaru is a small genus of cichlids with only two species. Uaru may come from the Amazon word for toad. This may because of their slightly frog like shape, or their coloration. ^[1] It is also possible that it comes from the words uara aru, "resembling a (hand) mirror" possibly from the Genus's pancake shaped members. These are also known as Triangle Chichlids, possibly refering to the triangular shape of adults. There are two known types of uaru, and there is possibly a third kind.; The Orange-fleck Uaru is sometimes imported and sold in Europe. However, this is not really a Uaru. ^[2]

1 Complete Taxonamy
2 Uaru amphiacanthoides
3 Uaru fernandezyepezi
4 See also
5 References

[edit] Complete Taxonamy

Superregnum: Eukaryota
Regnum: Animalia
Subregnum: Eumetazoa
Superphylum: Deuterostomia
Phylum: Chordata
Subphylum: Vertebrata
Infraphylum: Gnathostomata
Superclassis: Osteichthyes
Classis: Actinopterygii
Subclassis: Neopterygii

The Families of Labroidei.

Infraclassis: Teleostei
Superordo: Acanthopterygii
Ordo: Perciformes
Subordo: Labroidei
Familia: Cichlidae
Subfamilia: Cichlasomatinae
Genus: Uaru
Species: U. amphiacanthoides - Uaru fernandezyepezi ^[3]

[edit] Uaru amphiacanthoides

A picture of the Amazon River.

Uaru amphiacanthoides, commonly just called Uaru, is medium to large as far as Chichlids go. Uaru amphiacanthoides are much more common that Uaru imperialis. These fish are difficult to obtain, and usually have to be special ordered. Young Uarus cost approxamately 5$-20$, Adults can be anywhere from 20$ to about 100$.

[edit] Appearance

Although these Chichlids are usually about 10 inches, they can grow up to a foot long. Young Urarus are more brightly colored with pale white spots, but when they get to be about 3 inches long, they start to lose their color, and end up the brownish-green color of adults. Adults are a grayish-green color, with black sections on their sides. During mating season, their entire bodies turn black, except for a little brown area around the eyes, and the eyes turn a bright copper color.

[edit] Habitat and Diet

Uaru amphiacanthoides are ubandant in the Amazon River Basin. They are eaten by native people there, and they are hardly ever exported. They can survive in water pH 5.5-7.4. They prefer temperatures of 80°F-85º Fahrenheit (26º- 30ºCelcius). ^[4]

Uaru amphiacanthoides eat about anything. They are an Omnivorous species. Often in captivity they will eat aquarium plants down to the roots. It is important that they have some vegetable food in their diet.^[5]

[edit] Breeding

Uaru amphiacanthoides have a reputation for being hard to breed. Most breeders put a bunch in a tank, and when two seem to like each other, put that pair in a separate tank. Uaru amphiacanthoides will lay 100 through 800 eggs at a time. They are substrate spawners, and the eggs are usually laid on the floor of the tank, a peace of slate, or a sunken container (like a flower pot)^[6].

[edit] Uaru fernandezyepezi

Uaru fernandezyepezi are far less common than Uaru amphiacanthoides. Unlike their sister species, Uaru fernandezyepezi are rarely ever eaten as food. This fish was named after the Venezuelan ichthyologist Agustín Fernández Yépez. They are extreamly difficult to obtain, and children can cost over 100$. Adults cost much much more. ^[7]

[edit] Appearance

Similarly to Uaru amphiacanthoides, Uaru fernandezyepezi babies, have small pale spots around their bodies. As adults, the bodies turn cream, the eyes turn red, and three black marks appear on the body.

[edit] Habitat

Uaru fernandezyepezi are mostly from the Rio Atabapo system, in the Rio Orinoco drainage, between Venezuela and Colombia. They usually inhabit soft, acidic blackwaters. The pH of the water should be around 3-4, with minimal hardness.

[edit] Mating

The mating season of Uaru fernandezyepezi in the wild is February through April. Pairs spawn on open, flat surfaces, and lay eggs under overhanging roots. They only breed in soft water. ^[8]