Amatitlania nigrofasciata ( Günther, 1867 )

Çiçek, Erdoğan, Fricke, Ronald, Sungur, Sevil, Çapar, Osman Bahadir & Golani, Daniel, 2023, Freshwater fishes of Israel; a revised and updated annotated checklist- 2023, Zootaxa 5369 (4), pp. 451-484 : 464

Amatitlania nigrofasciata ( Günther, 1867) [I]—Convict cichlid; None

Taxonomy. Original description: Heros nigrofasciatus Günther, 1867: 601 [Lake Amatitlán, Guatemala; lectotype: BMNH 1865.4.29.76].— Israel synonyms: Cichlasoma nigrofasciatum ( Günther, 1867) ; Archocentrus nigrofasciatus ( Günther, 1867) ; Cryptoheros nigrofasciatus ( Günther, 1867) .—Revisions: Schmitter-Soto (2007: 49).—Illustration: Lee et al. (1980: 767, fig.) as Cichlasoma nigrofasciatum .

Status in Israel. First record from Israel by Goren (1984) as Cichlasoma nigrofasciatum ; confirmed by Goren & Ortal (1999), Golani et al. (2022) as Cichlasoma nigrofasciatum .—Israel material: HUJ.

Distribution and habitat. Distribution in Israel: Nahal Amal, Israel.—Distribution in River Basin: 1-Western Basin.—General distribution: Central America: Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua, and Panama; introduced in Puerto Rico, Hawaiian Islands, Mexico, Réunion, in the Middle East, Philippines and Australia.—Distribution in Ecoregion: 436-Coastal Levant.—Habitat:This freshwater, benthopelagic species occurs primarily in rivers and streams throughout its native range. This species prefers rocky and sandy habitats with tree branches and leaf litter, finding sanctuary in the various cracks and crevices provided by this type of environment, or among roots and debris. Freshwater.

Economic importance. Valuable for the aquarium trade.

Reasons of introduction. Ornamental fish industry.

Conservation. Not relevant (introduced species).