Home Species Pages Scientific Papers Articles Photos Dichotomous Key Store About the GSG Links/Sponsors	Gymnogeophagus lacustris Introduction: Endemic to coastal lagoons in southern Brazil, this species has a somewhat limited distribution which attirbutes to its rarity within the aquarium hobby. Scientific Name: Gymnogeophagus lacustris Etymology: "Gymno" is the Greek word for "naked", referring to the lack of scales in the head region. Geophagus is derived from the Greek word "Gea" meaning "Earth", and the Greek word "Phagein" meaning "to eat". Labiatus means "of a lake", coming from the coastal lagoons of lakes in southern Brazil, where the fish is often found. Synonyms: None Distribution: This species is found in coastal lagoons in the lakes of southern Brazil. Physical Description: G. lacustris exhibits great resemblence to G. gymnogenys and to G. labiatus. It differs from G. gymnogenys in its eye band, in G. gymnogenys the eye band is unbroken and travels straight through the eye, whereas in G. lacustris the eye band is broken and the section above the eye is set further back in the head. This species can be differentiated from G. labiatus by the characteristic swollen lips, which are absent in G. lacustris. Size: 160 mm Water Parameters: N/A Recommended Tank Size: For a pair of G. lacustris a 40 gallon tank should be used. Breeding: N/A Original Description: "Revision of the neotropical cichlid genus Gymnogeophagus Ribeiro, 1918, with descriptions of two new species (Pisces, Perciformes)" Roberto E. Reis and Luiz R. Malabarba	Latest GSG News:Jan. 11, 2011 - The GSG now has a page on Facebook. Press 'like' below! Jan. 11, 2011 - Want to recieve our newsletter? Email me: Mack@gymnogeophagus.com