1. A large family of freshwater and brackish-water fish native to Africa, South America, and Asia, characterized by a single nostril on each side and complex social behavior.
Usage: scientific/taxonomic term; plural: cichlidae or cichlids

Examples

• Cichlidae includes some of the most colorful fish kept in home aquariums.
• Many species within Cichlidae exhibit parental care for their young.
• The family Cichlidae is known for its remarkable diversity in feeding habits and body shapes.
• Aquarists often study Cichlidae because of their intelligence and complex behaviors.
• Lake Malawi is home to hundreds of endemic species belonging to Cichlidae.