Chanda ranga: Cichlasoma Severum

Tuesday, 24 July 2012

Cichlasoma Severum

The differences between the two mentioned Heros species are very noticeable; the Efaciatus being a much larger fish at around 8-12" with a much larger girth and the Severus being almost half that length and much more lightly built, there is also a distinct difference in the shape and coloration of these two fish, the Efaciatus is available in a wide range of colours in the aquarium trade, from its green wild form to its leucistic gold variety, and a red spotted variety that has line bred from the gold. The Severus, however when found, is usually a pale cream color with very small red spots not too different from Heros sp. notatus. The body shape of a Severus is much more streamlined with a pronounced snout, whilst Heros species in the 'Efaciatus complex' (Heros Efaciatus, Heros Notatus, Heros Sp. Rotkeil, Heros Appendiculatus to name but a few) have a much more 'rounded' shape.