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Thorichthys affinis (Günther, 1862)
slender complex compare to other members of
the genus, however this is more likely down to
the environment as they are found in faster flow-
ing rivers. They are the only Thorichthys species
lacking the black opercular blotch.
Common name: NA
Size: 14 cm TL
Distribution: Atlantic slope, in the upper Usu-
macinta, River basin in Guatemala. Notably Lake
Petén-Itza.
Thorichthys helleri (Steindachner, 1864)
Common name: NA
Notes: It has been suggested that both T. affinis
and T. meeki could be geographical variations. Di-
agnostic traits used to separate the species such
as a lighter orange throat and slightly elongated
profile, also applies to populations of T. meeki
found in the eastern part of the Yucatan Peninsu-
la. If in fact T. meeki is proposed as a junior syno-
nym, then T. affinis would take preference as they
were described first.
Size: 13 cm TL
Distribution: Atlantic slope, from the Coatzacoalc-
os River to the Usumacinta River drainage. Nota-
bly the Rio Candelaria, Rio Chacamax, Rio Corzo
and Rio Subin.
Notes: Thorichthys helleri has perhaps the widest
distribution range of the complex. A population is
known (Miller, 2005) in Rio Chiyú, which has un-
derground connection with Rio Sarstun, flowing
to the east into the Gulf of Honduras and forming
the border between Belize and Guatemala
Thorichthys aureus (Günther, 1862)
Common name: Blue flash cichlid
Size: 14 cm TL
Thorichthys maculipinnis (Steindachner, 1864)
Distribution: Atlantic slope from Belize, Guatema-
la and Honduras. Notably Lake Izabal, Blue Creek
and Rio Copan.
Common name: Ellioti cichlid?
Size: 15 cm TL
Notes: Thorichthys aureus are beautiful looking
fish, there is a gold and blue form variety. Many
fish offered may not be T. aureus and are some-
times a mixture of T. maculipinis or misidentified
as T. aureus?
Distribution: Atlantic slope, in the Papaloapán
River basin, notably Rio Dos Caños and Otapa Riv-
er.
Notes: For a time the cichlid was described as
Thorichthys ellioti until it was regarded as a junior
synonym to T. maculipinnis.
Thorichthys callolepis (Regan, 1904)
Common name: Mojarra de Santo Domingo
(literature, Spanish)
Thorichthys meeki (Brind, 1918)
Common name: Firemouth cichlid, Scarlet
chanchito (commercial, English).
Size: 15 cm TL
Distribution: Atlantic slope, in the Coatzacoalcos
River drainage. Notably Rio Almoloya, Rio Grande
and Rio Solosuchil.
Size: 12 cm TL
Distribution: Atlantic slope, in the Usumacinta
River drainage, the Belize River drainage, and
near Progreso, in Mexico, Guatemala and Belize.
Notes: Thorichthys callolepis has the smallest
range of the Thorichthys complex. They have a
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