Genus: Vieja, Cichlid, Cichlids
oval, deep
mouth short, jaws = /top projecting
mouth short, jaws = /top projecting
D no notch
soft D & A bases scaled
teeth: cónical/cylindridal, top jaw - outer series larger at front
A V-VI
VIEJA
CICHLIDS
Body a deep oval; 1 pair of nostrils; mouth short, oblique, horizontal or slightly down pointing; jaws about equal or upper projecting; top jaw highly protrusible; jaw teeth conical or cylindrical, rarely compressed, outer series on top jaw larger at front; gill rakers 7-15; dorsal fin XV-XVIII, 10-14, without a notch between spines and rays; anal fin V-VI, 8-11; pectoral fin not reaching to above anal fin origin; tail base short to medium; bases of soft dorsal and anal fins scaled; lateral line in 2 straight overlapping sections; often with a stripe along mid-side.
A central American genus of primarily freshwater species; 2 enter brackish water.
