Chanda ranga: Cichlasoma Nigrofasciatum

Tuesday, 24 July 2012

Cichlasoma Nigrofasciatum

Albert Günther originally described the species in 1867 after Frederick DuCane Godman and Osbert Salvin collected specimens in Central America.[4] In 2007, the species was moved from the genus Archocentrus to a new genus, Amatitlania based on Juan Schmitter-Soto's study of Archocentus species.[5] However, a 2008 study led by Oldrich Rican proposed moving the species in Cryptoheros and Amatitlania, including Amatitlania nigrofasciata into the genus Hypsophrys.[6]

The convict cichlid displays significant color variation across its range.[7][8] Some of these regional variants are now considered different species.[5] In the cichlid-keeping hobby, Rusty Wessel collected one such fish Amatitlania siquia "Honduran Red Point" from a stream in Honduras.[9][10] The Honduran Red Point Convict ranges from Atlantic Honduras south to Costa Rica.[5] Other new species formerly included in A. nigrofasciata are:

Amatitlania coatepeque, from Lake Coatepeque in El Salvador, and
Amatitlania kanna, from Panama's Atlantic coast