Classification / Names
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Teleostei (teleosts) >
Cichliformes (Cichlids, convict blennies) >
Cichlidae (Cichlids) > Cichlasomatinae
Etymology: Rocio: Named for the author's wife. In Spanish, the name means morning dew, in allusion to the resplendent spots on cheek and sides of some species, R. gemmata.
Eponymy: Rocío is a Spanish word for ‘morning dew’, an “image evoked by the resplendent spots on cheek and sides of some species”; Rocío is also the name of Juan Schmitter-Soto’s wife. (Ref. 128868), visit book page.
More on author: Regan.
Issue
The generic allocation of this species is still uncertain. It belongs to the tribe Heroini, but is maintained as an incertae sedis species of Cichlasoma pending a revision of heroin cichlids traditionally assigned to the cichlasomatin genus Cich
Environment: milieu / climate zone / depth range / distribution range
Ecology
Freshwater; benthopelagic; pH range: 7.0 - 8.0; dH range: 9 - 20. Tropical; 22°C - 30°C (Ref. 7335); 21°N - 14°N
North and Central America: Atlantic slope from southern Mexico (Papaloapán River) to Honduras (Ulua River).
Size / Weight / Age
Maturity: Lm ? range ? - ? cm
Max length : 25.0 cm TL male/unsexed; (Ref. 5723); common length : 7.5 cm TL male/unsexed; (Ref. 12193)
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.
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).
Life cycle and mating behavior
Maturity | Reproduction | Spawning | Eggs | Fecundity | Larvae
Lays eggs on substrate. Parents incubate eggs and guard young.
Schmitter-Soto, J.J., 2007. A systematic revision of the genus Archocentrus (Perciformes: Cichlidae), with the description of two new genera and six new species. Zootaxa 1603:1-78. (Ref. 74403)
IUCN Red List Status (Ref. 130435: Version 2024-2)
Threat to humans
Harmless
Human uses
Fisheries: of no interest; aquarium: highly commercial
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Estimates based on models
Phylogenetic diversity index (Ref.
82804): PD
50 = 0.5625 [Uniqueness, from 0.5 = low to 2.0 = high].
Bayesian length-weight: a=0.02692 (0.01189 - 0.06092), b=3.03 (2.84 - 3.22), in cm total length, based on LWR estimates for this (Sub)family-body shape (Ref.
93245).
Trophic level (Ref.
69278): 3.5 ±0.51 se; based on food items.
Resilience (Ref.
120179): High, minimum population doubling time less than 15 months (Assuming tm<1 and multiple annual spawning; Fec=500-800).
Fishing Vulnerability (Ref.
59153): Low vulnerability (15 of 100).
Nutrients (Ref.
124155): Calcium = 121 [59, 208] mg/100g; Iron = 1.29 [0.71, 2.55] mg/100g; Protein = 18.1 [16.6, 19.6] %; Omega3 = 0.388 [0.142, 1.132] g/100g; Selenium = 72.5 [27.5, 166.3] μg/100g; VitaminA = 36.3 [9.2, 117.9] μg/100g; Zinc = 1.66 [1.07, 2.56] mg/100g (wet weight);
