| Family: |
Cichlidae (Cichlids), subfamily: Cichlasomatinae |
| Max. size: |
25 cm TL (male/unsexed) |
| Environment: |
benthopelagic; freshwater; pH range: 7 - 8; dH range: 9 - 20 |
| Distribution: |
North and Central America: Atlantic slope from southern Mexico (Papaloapán River) to Honduras (Ulua River). |
| Diagnosis: |
Dorsal spines (total): 17-19; Dorsal soft rays (total): 8-10; Anal spines: 8-9; Anal soft rays: 7-9. This species has spots on sides smaller than scales, aligned in about 15 regular series (vs. not clearly aligned); abdomen predominantly whitish or greyish in life (similar to R. gemmata, vs. reddish in R. ocotal; ventral angle of articular is acute (vs. right); the first neural spine oriented rostrad (vs. caudad); circumpeduncular scales as few as 17 (vs. always more than 19); distance from the caudal esophageal loop in gut to esophagus always greater than 24% gut length (vs. less than 16%) (Ref. 74403).
There are no unique autapomorphies. |
| Biology: |
Occurs in swampy areas with warm, murky water. Found in weedy, mud-bottomed and sand-bottomed canals and drainage ditches (Ref. 5723). Prefers coastal plains and slow moving waters of the lower river valleys (Ref. 7335). Feeds on worms, crustaceans, insects and fish (Ref. 7020). |
| IUCN Red List Status: |
Least Concern (LC); Date assessed: 24 August 2018 Ref. (130435)
|
| Threat to humans: |
harmless |
Source and more info: www.fishbase.org. For personal, classroom, and other internal use only. Not for publication.
