Common Name: Lowland Cichlid

Synonyms and Other Names:

Parapetenia cyanostigma Hérnandez-Rolón 1990; Pearlscale Cichlid, mojarra tampiqueña

Identification: Similar to Rio Grande Cichlid (H. cyanoguttatus), but differs slightly in morphology and coloration (summarized by Oldfield et al. 2021). Lowland Cichlid has an oblique mouth with a lower jaw that projects slightly past the upper (vs. horizontal mouth with lower jaw equal to upper in Rio Grande Cichlid), a rounded ventral profile (vs. flat profile in Rio Grande), larger diameter iridescent spots on the flanks (mean size ≥ 1.5 mm vs. mean size ≤ 1.0 mm in Rio Grande), and black ventral color in breeding individuals extending forward to the mouth (vs. not extending to the mouth in Rio Grande)

Size: 17 cm standard length (Miller et al. 2005)

Native Range: Atlantic slope of Mexico; lowland areas from Río Soto la Marina to Río Pánuco (Miller et al. 2005)

This map only depicts Great Lakes introductions. Click here for Great Lakes region collection information Click here for the national map

Means of Introduction: Likely aquarium release.

Status: Likely extirpated or eradicated in Florida. Schofield et al (2018) sampled repeatedly in 2016 finding no additional specimens, and no further reports of this species have been documented.

Established in Louisiana, previously being misidentified as H. cyanoguttatus (Oldfield et al. (2021).

Great Lakes Impacts:

Remarks: This species has also been introduced, but is not established, in Singapore (Liew et al. 2012)

References (click for full reference list)

Other Resources:
USGS/NAS Technical Species Profile

Author: Neilson, M.E.

Contributing Agencies:

Revision Date: 6/24/2021

Peer Review Date: 7/2/2015

This information is preliminary or provisional and is subject to revision. It is being provided to meet the need for timely best science. The information has not received final approval by the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) and is provided on the condition that neither the USGS nor the U.S. Government shall be held liable for any damages resulting from the authorized or unauthorized use of the information.