Vieja


Vieja is a genus of cichlid fish from the Pacific slope of Central America and Mexico. The majority of the species are freshwater fish found in stagnant or slow-moving waters of southern Mexico to El Salvador, but V. maculicauda, which also occurs in brackish waters, ranges south to Panama. They are high-bodied cichlids that reach lengths of up to depending on the exact species. Historically, Vieja was included in Cichlasoma. Once recognized as its own genus, it first included most of the superficially similar, relatively large and high-bodied cichlids of Central America and southern Mexico, but several of these are now considered to belong to separate genera: Chuco, Cincelichthys, Isthmoheros, Kihnichthys, Maskaheros and Oscura. Vieja feed mostly on vegetable matter, but may also take small invertebrates.

Species

There are currently 8 recognized species in this genus: