Butterfly Peacock Bass Cichla ocellaris

The Butterfly Peacock Bass is a cichlid that looks like a bass, native to still and slow-moving lakes, canals and rivers of the Guianas and a neighbouring part of Brazil.

Its common and scientific names refer to the "eye" pattern on its tail, recalling the false eye in the tail feather of a peacock.

Background colour is usually olive grey, brown, green or yellow with 3 dark vertical bars that fade with age. It has orange "eye lids", red pelvic, anal and lower tail fins and speckles of white. Older breeding males sometimes develop a head hump. (The similar Kelberi Peacock Bass has spots on its lower fins and tail fin.)

It is one of the largest cichlids and can reach around three quarters of a metre length (nearly 30 inches) but is usually nearer half that size. Both parents will protect their eggs until hatched.

Its main diet is other fish. The Butterfly Peacock Bass has been introduced to warm fresh water of Florida to control invasive tilapia and as a sport fish.