Common name: red devil

Synonyms and Other Names: Cichlasoma labiatum (Günther, 1864); Heros labiatus Günther, 1864; mojarra picuda.

Taxonomy: available through www.itis.gov

Identification: Amphilophus labiatus is a species of freshwater fish native to Central America. It is a member of the Midas cichlid species assemblage (Amphilophus spp.), a group of closely related, morphologically similar species thought to comprise a recent adaptive radiation (Barluenga and Meyer 2010). It is considered one of the larger cichlid species. Coloration in the wild is variable, but it is recognized for its brilliant red coloration and robust build. The species can be distinguished from other members of Amphilophus by its large, broad, thick lips, slender, deep body, pointed head, and shorter fins (Barlow and Munsey 1976; Villa 1976). Photographs were provided by Barlow and Munsey (1976), Villa (1976), Loiselle (1980), Konings (1989), and Conkel (1993).

Size: 24 cm was recorded for wild populations (Conkel 1993) but in captivity settings the species has been described as large as 38 cm (Aquarium Nexus 2023).

Native Range: Central America. Great Lakes of Nicaragua: Lakes Nicaragua and Managua (Barlow and Munsey 1976; Conkel 1993).

Alaska	Hawaii	Puerto Rico & Virgin Islands	Guam Saipan

Hydrologic Unit Codes (HUCs) Explained
Interactive maps: Point Distribution Maps

Ecology: The Red Devil inhabits lakes and reservoirs and rarely enter rivers (Conkel, 1993; Suryandari et al. 2021). It feeds on algae, small fish, snails, insect larvae, worms, and other bottom-dwelling organisms (Yamamoto and Tagawa 2000; Ariasari et al. 2018). This species form monogamous pairs which spawn on flattened rocks or logs. Fecundity is between 191 and 2,720 eggs (Ohee et al. 2020). The species is described as aggressive of its territory (Aquairum Nexus 2023). The female cares for the clutch of eggs (Froese and Pauly 2012).

Means of Introduction: Aquarium release.

Status: Established in Hawaii and Puerto Rico.

Impact of Introduction: This species preys on native fishes (Adjie and Fatah 2015). Ohee et al. (2018), Jatayu et al. (2023), and Valen et al. (2023) suggested the species may be associated with the decline of native and endemic species due to its large abundances in introduced habitats.

Remarks: A fish taken from Hillsborough County, Florida, in 1976, originally was reported to be this species (Courtenay and Hensley 1979; Courtenay and Stauffer 1990), but that specimen later was re-identified tentatively as Amphilophus citrinellus (Smith-Vaniz, personal communication).

Red devil cichilds, as well as Midas cichlids (A. citrinellus) were introduced to Queensland, Australia in 1992 and are now established (Lintermans 2004).

References: (click for full references)

Adjie, S., and K. Fatah. 2015. Biologi Reproduksi ikan Red Devil (Amphilopus labiatus) dan (Amphilopus citrinellus) Diwadukkedungombo, Jawatengah. BAWAL 7(1):17-24.
Ariasari, A., S. Helmiati, and E. Setyobudi. 2018. Food preference of red devil (Amphilophus labiatus) in the Sermo Reservoir, Kulon Progo Regency. IOP Conference Series: Earth and Environmental Science 139(1):012018. https://doi.org/doi:10.1088/1755-1315/139/1/012018.
Aquarium Nexus. 2023. Red Devil cichlid care: Complete guide for beginners. https://www.aquariumnexus.com/red-devil-cichlid/. Accessed 04 Apr 2025.
Barlow, G.W., and J.W. Munsey. 1976. The red devil-midas-arrow cichlid species complex in Nicaragua. 359-369 in T.B. Thorson, ed. Investigations of the ichthyofauna of Nicaraguan Lakes. University of Nebraska, Lincoln, NE.
Barluenga, M., and A. Meyer. 2010. Phylogeography, colonization and population history of the Midas cichlid species complex (Amphilophus spp.) in the Nicaraguan crater lakes. BMC Evolutionary Biology 10:326.
Conkel, D. 1993. Cichlids of North and Central America. Tropical Fish Hobbyist Publications, Inc., Neptune City, NJ.
Courtenay, W.R., Jr., and D.A. Hensley. 1979. Survey of introduced non-native fishes. Phase I Report. Introduced exotic fishes in North America: status 1979. Report Submitted to National Fishery Research Laboratory, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Gainesville, FL.
Courtenay, W.R., Jr., and J.R. Stauffer, Jr. 1990. The introduced fish problem and the aquarium fish industry. Journal of the World Aquaculture Society 21(3):145-159.
Froese, R. and D. Pauly (eds). 2012. FishBase. World Wide Web electronic publication. Available from: http://www.fishbase.org. Version (08/2012).
Jatayu, D., L. Insani, F.S. Valen, D. Ramadhanu, A.M. Hafidz, N.B. Susilo, A. Sabri, R.A. Islamy, M.B. Tamam, and V. Hasan. 2023. Range expansion of Red devil cichlid Amphylopus labiatus (Günther, 1864) (Actinopterygii: Cichlidae) in Bangka Island, Indonesia. IOP Conference Series: Earth and Environmental Science 1267(1): 012100.
Konings, A. 1989. Cichlids from Central America. Tropical Fish Hobbyist Publications, Inc., Neptune City, NJ.
Lintermans, M. 2004. Human-assisted dispersal of alien freshwater fish in Australia. New Zealand Journal of Marine and Freshwater Research 38:481-501.
Loiselle, P.V. 1980. The Cichlasoma labiatum species complex. Freshwater and Marine Aquarium 3(4):30-35, 67.
Ohee, H.L., P. Sujarta, S.B. Surbakti, and H. Barclay. 2018. Rapid expansion and biodiversity impacts of the red devil cichlid (Amphilophus labiatus, Günther 1864) in Lake Sentani, Papua, Indonesia. Biodiversitas 19(6):2096-2103.
Ohee, H.L., N. Mote, M.A. Rice, and Sujarta, P. 2020. Sex ratio and reproduction of invasive red devil (Amphilophus labiatus: Cichlidae) in Lake Sentani, Indonesia. Lakes and Reservoirs: Research and Management 25(3):334-345.
Smith-Vaniz, W. - Ichthyologist (retired), U.S. Geological Survey, Gainesville, FL.
Suryandari, A., D.A. Hedianto, and Indriatmoko. 2021. Fish community structure in Sermo Reservoir, Yogyakarta, Indonesia: Initial study on invasive fish species. IOP Conference Series: Earth and Environmental Science 744(1):012086.
Valen, F.S., A. Nomleni, G. Turnip, M.Y. Luhulima, and L. Insani. 2023. Presence of non-native freshwater fish in Indonesia: A review-Risk and ecological impacts. Aquaculture, Aquarium, Conservation and Legislation 16(1):66-79.
Villa, J. 1976. Systematic status of the cichlid fishes Cichlasoma dorsatum, C. granadense and C. nigritum Meek. Pages 375-383 in T.B. Thorson, ed. Investigations of the ichthyofauna of Nicaraguan Lakes. University of Nebraska, Lincoln, NE.
Yamamoto, M.N. and A.W. Tagawa. 2000. Hawai'i's native and exotic freshwater animals. Mutual Publishing, Honolulu, HI.

Other Resources:
Hawaii Bass Fishing

US Fish and Wildlife Service Ecological Risk Screening Summary for Amphilophus labiatus

Author: EM Dean, Leo Nico, Pam Fuller, and Matt Neilson

Peer Review Date: 4/10/2025

This information is preliminary or provisional and is subject to revision. It is being provided to meet the need for timely best science. The information has not received final approval by the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) and is provided on the condition that neither the USGS nor the U.S. Government shall be held liable for any damages resulting from the authorized or unauthorized use of the information.