Trichromis, Mcmahan, Caleb D., Matamoros, Wilfredo A., Piller, Kyle R. & Chakrabarty, Prosanta, 2015

Mcmahan, Caleb D., Matamoros, Wilfredo A., Piller, Kyle R. & Chakrabarty, Prosanta, 2015, Taxonomy and systematics of the herichthyins (Cichlidae: Tribe Heroini), with the description of eight new Middle American Genera, Zootaxa 3999 (2), pp. 211-234 : 231

Genus Trichromis gen. nov. McMahan and Chakrabarty 2015

( Fig. 20 )

Inclusive species. T. salvini (type by monotypy)

Diagnosis. Trichromis is diagnosed by the presence of two dark lines down the length of the body, one just above the distal tip of the pectoral fin, and the other right below the dorsal fin. The mouth is small and terminal and the overall body shape is oval or oblong. Dark, narrow bars or lines are present, typically three or four, from in between the eyes to the predorsal region anterior to the dorsal fin. The interorbital markings are not as broad as those in Maskaheros . Both sexes of species within this genus are colorful (yellow, red, blue/green), and coloration becomes more vivid during breeding.

Distribution. Rivers of the Atlantic slope of southern Mexico, Belize, and Guatemala.

Etymology. Gender feminine. “Tri” is Greek for three, in reference to the three vibrant colors defining this genus (red, yellow, and blue). “-chromis” is Greek for fish.

Comments. This species of northern Middle American cichlid has been recovered in several different phylogenetic positions across studies. Most of these discrepancies are likely due to differences in taxonomic sampling among studies. Matamoros et al. (2015) recovered this species outside of the herichthyins and sister to Cryptoheros nanoluteus . Říčan et al. (2013) recovered this species as the sister group to Thorichthys , and López- Fernández et al. (2010) found this species to be outside of the herichthyin cichlids and the sister group to a large clade of several different genera. In nearly all cases (including the present study), T. salvini is recovered in its own clade and not the sister group to any species or clade of species even remotely similar morphologically. Thus, given the phylogenetic position and the morphological distinctiveness of this species, we describe a new genus to contain this species.

Material examined. LSUMZ 16257 [n=2, Guatemala: Lago Peten-Itza], LSUMZ 16366 [n=4, Guatemala: Río La Pasion], LSUMZ 16417 [n=4, Guatemala: Lago Yaxhá], FMNH 109065 [n=18, Guatemala: Río San Pedro].

Figures

FIGURE 20. Trichromis salvini, FMNH 109065, 69.76 mm SL.