Mikrogeophagus

Mikrogeophagus
Ram cichlid (M. ramirezi)
Scientific classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Actinopterygii
Order: Cichliformes
Family: Cichlidae
Subfamily: Cichlinae
Tribe: Geophagini
Genus: Mikrogeophagus
Meulengracht-Madsen, 1968
Type species
Apistogramma ramirezi
G. S. Myers & Harry, 1948
Synonyms
  • Microgeophagus Frey, 1957 (not available)
  • Microgeophagus Axelrod 1971
  • Papiliochromis Kullander 1977

Mikrogeophagus is a genus of cichlids native to the Llanos wetlands (Orinoco basin) and GuaporéMamoré river system (southern Amazon basin) in tropical South America. They are dwarf cichlids that reach up to 6 cm (2.4 in) in standard length.

They are popular with aquarists, especially M. ramirezi. These species spawn on flat rocks or leaves and not in small caves like the closely related cichlid genus Apistogramma.