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Definition of keyhole cichlid
keyhole cichlid
Plural:keyhole cichlids
keyhole cichlid Lexical Profile
CEFR
C2
Grade
9
Tier
3
Usage
Rare
• noun
1
A small, peaceful freshwater fish (Cleithracara maronii) native to the coastal river basins of northern South America, popular in the aquarium trade and named for the distinctive, keyhole-shaped dark spot on its flanks.
Example
"The keyhole cichlid is highly recommended for beginner aquarists due to its hardy nature and unusually docile temperament compared to other members of its family."
Word Origin & Etymology
Named for the distinctive dark marking on its upper flank, which resembles an old-fashioned keyhole, combined with 'cichlid' from the Greek 'kichlē' (a type of fish).
Usage Trend
Historical frequency of usage in published text.
180019102020
Data source: Google Books Ngram Viewer
Cite this Entry
Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Keyhole cichlid. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Oct 12, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/keyhole cichlid