Amphilophus is a
genus of
cichlid fishes[1] from
Central America, ranging from southern Mexico to
Panama. The genus currently contains 23 species, including several that are well known from the
aquarium trade. However, studies led by
Oldřich Říčan in 2008 and 2016 suggested that several species within Amphilophus should be moved to the genus Astatheros.[2][3] Species proposed to be moved to Astatheros in 2008 were A. alfari, A. altifrons, A. bussingi, A. diquis, A. longimanus, A. macracanthus (which would be the
type species for Astatheros), A. margaritifer, A. rhytisma, A. robertsoni and A. rostratus.[2] Further genetic studies led Říčan to put A. macracanthus in Astatheros, but to put A. alfari, A. altifrons, A. bussingi, A. diquis, A. longimanus, A. rhytisma, A. robertsoni and A. rostratus within the genus Cribroheros.[3] Říčan's study suggests that the Astatheros species are more closely related to the
Jack Dempsey and
rainbow cichlid than to the remaining Amphilophus species.[2]
According to
FishBase, there are currently 16 recognized species in this genus, listed below.[1][5] According to
Catalog of Fishes, Amphilophus erythraeus is a valid species (considered a
synonym of A. labiatus by FishBase), Amphilophus margaritifer is an invalid species, and Amphilophus includes two additional species, Amphilophus istlanus and Amphilophus trimaculatus (both these are placed in Cichlasoma by FishBase).[6] Whereas trimaculatus belongs in Amphilophus based on genetics, appearance and behavior, the position of istlanus is less clear, as
nDNA places it in Amphilophus, but
mDNA places it in Mayaheros; istlanus is likely the result of
hybrid speciation involving A. trimaculatus and Mayaheros beani.[3]
^
abcStauffer; McCrary & Black (2008). "Three new species of cichlid fishes (Teleostei: Cichlidae) from Lake Apoyo, Nicaragua". Proceedings of the Biological Society of Washington. 121 (1): 117–129.
doi:
10.2988/06-37.1.
S2CID59518792.
[1]Archived 2011-10-03 at the
Wayback Machine
^
abGeiger; McCrary & Stauffer (2010). "Description of two new species of the Midas cichlid complex (Teleostei: Cichlidae) from Lake Apoyo, Nicaragua". Proceedings of the Biological Society of Washington. 123 (2): 159–173.
doi:
10.2988/09-20.1.
S2CID55158577.
[2]Archived 2011-10-03 at the
Wayback Machine