What key habitat feature do Central American cichlid types prefer in South Florida canals?

Vegetation and submerged logs

The Central American cichlid types, which are freshwater fish colloquially called Mojarra in Central America and introduced to South Florida, rely heavily on cover for survival and ambushing prey. Unlike their coastal counterparts that prefer soft bottoms, these inland species thrive by hiding within dense vegetation or around submerged woody debris such as logs. Furthermore, their feeding behavior is noted to be reluctant in cloudy water, suggesting that structure and cover are paramount in clear, slow-moving freshwater systems like canals and the Everglades where they reside.