Cichlids

Gómez-Martínez, Roni Fernando, López-Vila, Jesús Manuel, Matamoros, Wilfredo A., González-Díaz, Alfonso A. & Gómez-González, Adán Enrique, 2022, Diversity of Cichlid Fishes (Cichliformes: Cichlidae) in Chiapas, Mexico: A practical identification key with updated distribution maps, Zootaxa 5175 (2), pp. 231-252 : 243-246

Dichotomous key for Cichlids from Chiapas

1a. Anal fin III (occasionally IV)........................................................... 33 (African tilapias)

1b. Anal fin IV or more................................................................................... 2

2a. Jaws large and protrusible (protractile). Ascendent process of premaxillary reaches or exceeds vertical half of eye when mouth closed.............................................................................................. 3

2b. Jaws short, poorly or not protrusible (moderately protractile). Ascendent process of premaxillary does not reach the vertical half of eye when mouth closed.............................................................................. 6

3a. Three black blotches on each side of body, a dark blotch above the origin of the upper lateral line, another on the middle of the side, and a third at the base of the caudal. Longitudinal stripes absent. Color in life: mainly dark brown, brown or olive green in the head and body, the coloration is stronger in the upper portion and decreases in the ventral portion, and color in fins is more intense that on the flanks.......................................................... Amphilophus trimaculatus

3b. Previous patterns absent; multiple blotches or vertical bars on the middle body.................................... 4

4a. Dorsal fin. XIV–XVI, 10–13, A. IV–V, 8–10. Maxillary anterior border exceeds posterior border of eye when mouth closed (extremely protractile mouth). Seven black spots on side of body from opercle to caudal peduncle. Blotch on caudal peduncle more intense and defined. Color in life: light yellow with metallic tones (silver and red color has been reported out of state) in the head and body; very small dark spots on scales............................................. Petenia splendida

4b. Dorsal fin XVII–XIX, 9–11; A. VII–VIII, 8–9. Maxillary anterior border does not reach posterior border of eye.......... 5

5a. Three to four sets of pores in the anterior part of the eyes, each one with 10 pores (count from the nostril up, around the eye). Pectoral fins short, does not reach the first anal spine. Spot at the base of the pectoral fin present. Lobe small at lower angle of the preopercle present (Absent in juveniles). Six to eight vertical bars on body (in juveniles, vertical bars not yet formed, a continuous midline present); GR. 14–17. Color in life: greenish brown, bright gold, golden green or purple plus a dark mottled pattern in the head and body. Dark vertical bars on the flanks and two dark head-stripes, first stripe from upper part eye to upper portion of opercle and another from lower part of eye to lower portion of opercle.............. Parachromis managuensis

5b. Three to four sets of pores in the anterior part of the eyes, each one with 3–4 pores (count from the nostril up, around the eye). Pectoral fins long, does reach the first anal spine. Spot at the base of the pectoral fin absent. Absence of a small lobe at lower angle of the preopercle. Nine to ten vertical bars on the body; GR. 8–13. Color in life: yellow or olive yellow in the head and body. Dark vertical bars on the flanks and two dark head-stripes, first stripe from upper part eye to opercle and another from lower part of eye to subopercle......................................................................................................................................................... Parachromis multifasciatus

6a. Scales on the bases of the dorsal and anal fins absent. Black blotch on the subopercle present......................... 7

6b. Scales on the base of the dorsal and anal fins present. Black blotch on the subopercle absent......................... 10

7a. Head profile rounded; GR. 10–14, A. VII–VIII.............................................................. 8

7b. Head profile straight; GR. 14–22, A. VIII–X (rarely VII)..................................................... 9

8a. Dark pattern on the sides of the body that looks like an “L” in horizontal position; 3–5 (usually 4) rows of horizontal cheek scales. Color in life: mainly orange, reddish or salmon, light bluish in the head and body; salmon-orange ventral portion. Blackish vertical bars on the flanks (third bar bluish black and especially marked and form the principal dark pattern) and black irregular blotch on the lower portion the opercle plus the turquoise spots on the opercle and subopercle (in fixed specimens, the turquoise spots are still notorious, but with a more subdued whitish to black coloration); black oval blotch on the lower portion the opercle.......................................................................... Thorichthys socolofi

8b. Dark pattern on the sides of the body that looks like an “L” absent; 5–6 rows of horizontal cheek scales. Color in life: mainly yellow in the head and body, luminescent blue spots small; light orange ventral portion. Blackish vertical bars on the flanks (third bar is black and especially marked in upper of side) and black oval blotch on the lower portion the opercle plus turquoise spots on the preopercle and opercle (in fixed specimens are not visible)........................... Thorichthys helleri

9a. Black caudal blotch present; GR. 18–22. Branchiostegal membranes dark gray in life (this coloration does conserve in fixed specimens). Color in life: green-yellow or yellow, with iridescent blue sheen in the head and body. Five to six fuzzy vertical bars on the flanks; black blotch on the lower portion the opercle plus large black blotch on the middle-upper back and blotch in caudal peduncle...................................................................... Thorichthys pasionis

9b. Black caudal blotch absent; GR. 14–18. Branchiostegal membranes red in life (this coloration does not preserve in fixed specimens). Color in life: gray to olive yellow in the upper portion of the body and the head; ventral portion and particularly the lower part of the head is bright red or orange (in breeding males it is more noticeable). Five to six vertical black bars of varying intensity on the flanks (the third bar is more colorful) and large black mark on the lower half of the opercle Thorichthys meeki

10a. Caudal blotch of the peduncle (irregular, diffuse or ocellated) located in the dorsal portion of lateral line............... 11

10b. Caudal blotch of the peduncle, located on the lateral line..................................................... 17

11a. Vertical bars in the body absents, or the bars do not reach the ventral portion. Two longitudinal stripes on the body; the first stripe is from the medial edge of the eye to the caudal peduncle and the second stripe is in the dorsal portion of the body. Two to three interorbital stripes on the head. Color in life: yellow or yellow in the upper portion of head and body, bright red ventral portion, bright stripes below eye and black, light brown or ash gray stripes on body and head........... Trichromis salvini

11b. Vertical bars on the sides of the body, or an incomplete dark longitudinal strip present.............................. 12

12a. Longitudinal incomplete dark stripe from eye until half-body................................................. 13

12b. Longitudinal dark stripes absent......................................................................... 14

13a. Pores on secondary scales of the caudal fin present, besides, pores in the extended lateral line. Pelvic fins generally do not reach the anal origin; distally 2 rows of scales between the longest rays of the dorsal fin; rounded lateral spot. Schmitter-Soto (2007) does not include patterns of coloration in life with exception of abdomen reddish although Miller (1957) describes fixed specimens with more details: ten or eleven indistinct vertical or oblique bars; irregular or interrupted stripe extends from the top of the opercle, extending back no further than the middle of the soft dorsal fin and some individuals have a prominent black spot at the base of the upper half of the caudal fin and it is surrounded by a light zone; this spot is indistinct or absent in other specimens. The two largest fish are totally black................................................... Rocio ocotal

13b. Pores in the scales in the caudal fin absent, with one or two pores in the extended lateral line. Pelvic fins almost always reach the anal origin; distally a row of scales between the longest rays of the dorsal fin; square lateral spot. Color in life: gray-olive to dark blue-green or dark blue, with small iridescent white or blue-green spots on the head, body, and fins; and the abdomen is whitish or grayish. Eight to eleven gray or black vertical bars on the flanks and black stripe that expands back no further than the middle of flanks; prominent black ocellated blotch at the upper portion of caudal peduncle base...... Rocio octofasciata

14a. Mouth with thickened lips, projected upper jaw. Six vertical bars in the body. Color in life: yellowish to olive green with shiny bluish scales in the head and body. Six to eight black vertical bars on the flanks and blue and green luminescent points on the ventral portion of the head and dorsal fin................................................ Wajpamheros nourissati

14b. Mouth with lips not thickened, upper jaw not projected and 5–9 vertical bars in the body............................ 15

15a. Eight to nine dark vertical bars plus square dark blotch under the upper lateral line in 5th vertical bar. Reticulated pattern on dorsal and caudal fins present; blue lines and spots in portion lower snout present; caudal blotch no ocellated; GR.17–20. Color in life: dark greenish with yellowish portions in the head and body; blue or green spots on cheeks, caudal and dorsal fins..................................................................................... Cribroheros robertsoni

15b. Five to seven vertical bars without blotch in middle portion of body. Reticulated pattern absent (the fins dorsal and anal are spotted or unspotted but opaque or translucent); blue lines and spots in portion lower snout absent; caudal blotch ocellated or no ocellated; GR. 10–16............................................................................... 16

16a. Anterior borders of the jaws are equal, or the upper jaw exceeds slightly the lower jaw. Five vertical gray bars; caudal blotch no ocellated. The first bar originates from the initial part of the dorsal fin. Color in life: blackish or white (very evident in the ventral portion) in the body, with grayish portions on the head and fins are translucent........... Astatheros macracanthus

16b. Anterior border of the lower jaw exceeds the anterior limit of the upper jaw. Six to seven dark vertical bars; caudal blotch ocellated. Color in life: dark green or orange brown, the coloration is lighter on the belly; black vertical bars, and the caudal blotch is black with a white outline and opaque fins...................................... Mayaheros urophthalmus

17a. Teeth spatulate throughout most of mouth................................................................. 18

17b. Teeth conical throughout most of mouth.................................................................. 19

18a. Black or dark brown stripe on ventral portion of body present. Small dark blotch in central part of caudal peduncle present; round shaped body. Color in life: mainly yellow in the head and body. Seven vertical bars on the flanks and stripe in the belly previously described.................................................................. Cincelichthys pearsei

18b. Black or dark brown stripe in body ventral portion absent. Large dark blotch on the caudal peduncle. Deep-bodied form. Color in life: mainly olive green in the head and ventral portion and body gray. Five to six vertical bars on the flanks that can merge and form a blotch in the middle portion.................................................. Kihnichthys ufermanni

19a. Mouth strongly subterminal (beak mouth; the anterior border of the upper jaw exceeds the anterior limit of the lower jaw). Oval body; D. XVI–XIX, 11–14, A.V–VI, 7–10, GR. 9–12. Color in life: yellow to bright golden yellow or sky blue or greenish blue in the head and body. Continuous black blotches from the opercle to the caudal fin............. Paraneetroplus gibbiceps

19b. Mouth terminal or moderately subterminal (the anterior border of the upper jaw exceeds the anterior limit of the lower jaw).. .................................................................................................. 20

20a. Long head; HL. 42–45% SL. Lines sharp brown around the eye, snout, and cheeks present (typically 7). Color in life: yellow orange or bluish gray in the head and body; turquoise green belly and coppery orange or brownish orange blotches in the flanks............................................................................................................................................................................... Chiapaheros grammodes

20b. Short head; HL. 33–40% SL. Interorbital bars absent or less than seven interorbital stripes (two wide interorbital bars present in Vieja breidohri and V. hartwegi , although in fixed specimens they can be lost ( Gómez-González et al. 2018))......... 21

21a. Height head 32–42% SL. Reticulated pattern present on soft portion of dorsal, anal and caudal fins (preserved in fixed specimens)......................................................................................... 22

21b. Height head 43–48% SL. Reticulated pattern absent on soft portion of dorsal, anal and caudal fins.................... 24

22a. Spots small on the body (freckled appearance across the body). Pelvic fin reaches the first anal spine. Color in life: olive green to brown in the head and body. Six or seven blackish vertical bars ending in the middle of the body, and dark brown freckles small on the body................................................................... Rheoheros lentiginosus

22b. Spots absent or body with few freckles very scattered. Pelvic fin does not reach origin of anal....................... 23

23a. Dorsal rays 11–12, GR. 8–10, A. IV–VI–8. Vertical bars from dorsal part to the middle of the body, but not reach ventral. Mouth terminal, upper lip matches the lower edge of the eye. Color in life: silver to yellow (or pink-orange in females), the ventral portion is blue (turquoise in females) in the head and body; dorsal portion is brown to violet-brown. A saddle-shaped stain in the nape. Seven to eight well-defined dark brown vertical bars run across the upper two-thirds of the body, ending broad, round or square spots in the middle of the body................................................... Rheoheros coeruleus

23b. Dorsal rays 13–15; GR. 12–15; A. IV–V,9–10. Vertical bars from dorsal part to reach ventral part. Mouth subterminal, upper lip does not match the lower edge of the eye. Color in life: yellow in the body and head. Seven rather irregular vertical bars, some of which extend on the dorsal fin (in some specimens the central part is more noticeable), and black stripe from opercle to caudal fin. Silvery or white belly; blue spots on some body scales.............................. Theraps irregularis

24a. Black stripe present from opercle to mid-body and connecting with black vertical bar that originates from the last portion dorsal fin (resembles an inverted check mark). Color in life: yellowish beige in the head and body, brownish orange dorsal portion, black scales on the flanks................................................................ Chuco intermedium

24b. Previous character absent (24a)......................................................................... 25

25a. Longitudinal stripes on the body absent; broad vertical complete bars or fragmented longitudinal stripe in the body present.. .................................................................................................. 26

25b. Longitudinal stripes (complete or incomplete) on the body present; occasionally can have vertical bars, broad, incomplete and noticeably blurry in the middle portion of body............................................................. 29

26a. Two to three spots present on the upper middle of body...................................................... 27

26b. Fragmented stripe present or vertical bars on the body....................................................... 28

27a. Saddle-shaped stain at the dorsal portion of the head, above interorbital stripes. Two black or blackish blotches in the body, the first in the upper lateral line and the other in half-body (in adults, the body blotches are diffused or absent). Color in life: white or silver in the head and body; black spots in the scales and blotches previously described........... Maskaheros argenteus

27b. Saddle-shape blotch absent. Color in life: grayish or olive green in the head and body, brown-reddish blotches; body without spots. Four inconspicuous vertical bars present. In adults, these bars are reduced to two or three blotches over the upper lateral line (in live or freshly collected specimens, the head has lot blue-turquoise spots)................... Maskaheros regani

28a. Wide dark vertical bars on the body (typically 5). Square blotch on the caudal peduncle and black scales on most of the body. Color in life: olive green and gold in the head and body; black intense pattern described anteriorly...... Oscura heterospila

28b. Vertical bars absent; middle longitudinal stripe is fragmented, forming a sequence of blotches (separated or connected) that vanish and do not reach the opercle. Black scales on most portion of the body and rectangular blotch on the caudal peduncle absents. Color in life: silvery, bluish gray to bright steel blue in the head and body; barely visible stripes between the eyes and spots small under the eye, chin, throat, chest and abdomen and stripe (described previously)............... Vieja breidohri

29a. One longitudinal stripe (complete or incomplete)........................................................... 30

29b. Two longitudinal stripes (complete or incomplete).......................................................... 32

30a. Incomplete dark longitudinal stripe present (slightly angled), from caudal fin base until lower portion half-body. Color in life: intense orange head and greenish, olive, orange or golden body (the Grijalva population is olive green or grayish green, with scattered iridescent bluish scales on the body, juveniles have poorly defined vertical bars on the sides of the body), and stripe (described previously)..................................................................... Vieja melanurus

30b. Complete or incomplete longitudinal stripe present (regular or irregular)......................................... 31

31a. Pelvic fin reaching anal origin. Black longitudinal stripe continuous, arched and with irregular borders. Color in life: mainly blue o bluish in the head and body; bright greenish yellow or turquoise green metallic upper portion; bright blue lower portion, mainly on the chin and throat, gills and chest.................................................... Vieja guttulata

31b. Pelvic fin surpasses anal origin, reaching first anal spine. Longitudinal stripe regular with defined borders. Color in life: mainly dark olive green in the head and body, iridescent blue body parts. Black stripe from the opercle to the caudal base.................................................................................................... Vieja zonata

32a. Large irregular or rectangular dark blotch present, from opercle to the lower edge of the eye. Complete longitudinal stripe present, plus the presence of another upper partial longitudinal stripe, separated by a white area (1.5–2 scales). Color in life: bright yellow or pinkish brown in the head and body, yellow lower portion with reddish spots, mainly on the chin and throat, gills and chest. Black two body-stripe and fuzzy brown two interorbital-stripes........................ Vieja bifasciata

32b. Crescent blotch on the opercle present (sometimes absent). Straight stripe in mid-body and another upper stripe formed by the presence of five incomplete vertical bars (resembles irregular blotches), two stripes occasionally fused. Color in life: silver-gray to olive gray, olive gray to yellowish, olive to yellowish, plus iridescent dots on head (in adults, red spots cover the entire head). Red dots in the center of the scales cover the entire body and continue on the dorsal, anal, and caudal fins. Two dark interorbital bars present; usually red belly in adults. Two stripes black on the flanks, upper stripe more diffuse (see Gómez-Gonzalez et a l. 2018).................................................................................... Vieja hartwegi

33a Total gill-rakers on lower limb of first arch. 8–12. Color in life: mossy green with iridescent blue in the head and body, two dark stripes and dark vertical bars on the flanks, reddish belly........................................... Coptodon zillii

33b. Total gill-rakers on lower limb of first arch 14–29.......................................................... 34

34a. Dorsal fin XVII–XVIII; GR. 19–22; conspicuous vertical bars present in caudal fin. Color in life: grayish brown in the head and body. Series of diffuse dark vertical bars. Fins ash gray, with a very characteristic pattern of thin bars on the dorsal, anal, and caudal fins (juveniles with a dark blotch in dorsal fin base, absent in adults).................. Oreochromis niloticus

34b. Dorsal fin XIV–XVI, GR. 14–28; vertical bars on caudal fin absent............................................ 35

35a. Total gill-rakers on lower limb of first arch 21–28, D. XIV–XVI. Dark eyes, opercle blotched. Color in life: bluish silver or green in the head and body. pink to red wide margin caudal fin. Breeding males are intense bright metallic blue on the head, and an intense pink on the caudal fin......................................................... Oreochromis aureus

35b. Total gill-rakers on lower limb of first arch 14–20; D. XV–XVI. Yellow or blue eyes; opercle not blotched. Color in life: bluish black in the head and body, edges of dorsal and caudal fins pinkish (2–5 dark spots-flanks in females gray-green to deep bluegray and 6–7 bars-flanks or 3 spots-flanks immatures of males and juveniles silvery)........... Oreochromis mossambicus