Cichlids are an immense family of freshwater fishes of almost unbelievable diversity. Estimates of the number of species of cichlids range from 1300 to many, many more. Oscars and freshwater Angelfish, both common aquarium fishes, are cichlids. All cichlids are freshwater fish (though a few are occasionally found in brackish water and rarely in coastal marine areas).

Cichlids are found in North America from southern Texas down to Argentina in South America. They are found throughout Africa and parts of the Middle East. There are cichlids on the Island of Madagascar, on the Island of Sri Lanka, and along the southern coast of India. There are no cichlids native to the Far East or Australia, nor are any found naturally in North America north of Texas. However, cichlids have been introduced, either deliberately or accidentally, into many locations around the world where they were not found natively. For instance, there are many introduced cichlids in the waterways and canals of southern Florida.

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