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Cichlids are fish from the family of cichlids in the order Perciformes. The family Cichlidae, a large family of Perciformes fish that is both broad and varied. There are at least 1300 species scientifically described and is thus one of the largest family in vertebrates. Many species are discovered each year, and many species are described. The actual number of species is uncertain, with estimates ranging from 1300 to 3000 species and 1900 species, suggesting a font. Cichlids span a wide range of body sizes of species as small as 2.5 centimeters (1.0 inches) long with large species can reach 1 meter (3 feet) long. As a group, cichlids show a great variety of body shapes, from strongly laterally compressed by species, which are cylindrical and elongated. Generally, however, rather cichlids are compressed medium, slightly oval and laterally, and usually very similar to North American sunfish in terms of morphology, behavior and ecology.

Many of the cichlids, in particular tilapia fish are important food, while other fish are appreciated. Many species, including angelfish, Oscars, and the disc are also very popular in the aquarium trade. Cichlids are also the family of vertebrates with the largest number of threatened species, most of them were found in the Haplochromines group. Cichlids are particularly well known, rapidly and have a large number of closely related but morphologically different in the Great Lakes, particularly developed, Tanganyika, Victoria, Malawi, and Edward. The diversity of cichlids in the Great Lakes region in Africa is important for the study of speciation in evolution. Many cichlids, accidentally or intentionally made outside their natural range in inland nuisance species such as tilapia in the southern United States.