Maskaheros
| Maskaheros | ||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
.jpg)
Maskaheros argenteus , the type species of the genus |
||||||||||||
| Systematics | ||||||||||||
|
||||||||||||
| Scientific name | ||||||||||||
| Maskaheros | ||||||||||||
| McMahan & Piller , 2015 |
Maskaheros is a genus of cichlids (Cichlidae)found in northern Central America. The distribution area includes the catchment area of Río Coatzacoalcos and Río Usumacinta in southern Mexico and Guatemala .
features
Maskaheros species reach lengths of 23 to over 27 cm and have a high-backed, oval body that is patterned with small, irregularly (i.e. not in rows) arranged dots. A wide, dark, mask-like band extends over the forehead from eye to eye, to which the first part of the generic name refers ( Sp .: "mascara" = mask + hero ). There are two to three larger, dark spots above the upper sideline . Another lies in the middle of the tail peduncle. This is relatively large, but does not cover the tail stalk as much as in the very similar genus Vieja . The dorsal, anal and caudal fins are patterned with small spots. The caudal fin is slightly rounded. The teeth are conical, the upper lip protrudes slightly over the lower lip. Young fish are less high-backed and the dark spot on the tail stalk is smaller.
Systematics
Currently, the genus Maskaheros consists of two species.
- Maskaheros argenteus (Allgayer, 1991) ( type species )
- Maskaheros regani (Miller, 1974)
For a long time, both species belonged to the former collective genus Cichlasoma , recently to Paraneetroplus , and are also closely related to Vieja . In August 2015 the genus Maskaheros was introduced. The greater body height, the eye-catching headband and the spot on the tail stalk distinguish Maskaheros from Vieja and Paraneetroplus .
literature
- Caleb D. McMahan, Wilfredo A. Matamoros, Kyle R. Piller & Prosanta Chakrabarty: Taxonomy and systematics of the herichthyins (Cichlidae: Tribe Heroini), with the description of eight new Middle American Genera. Zootaxa 3999 (2): 211-234. doi: 10.11646 / zootaxa.3999.2.3