Since then , over the years Herichthys bartoni has flittered in and out several genera . In 1898 Jordan and Evermann moved it to the genus Cichlasoma , several years later the British ichthyologist Charles Tate Regan briefly included the fish in the subgenus Parapetenia , but then later moved back to Cichlasoma . However , in 1983 Sven Kullander began restricting Cichlasoma to 12 species , therefore bartoni would need to be placed in another genus . It was later suggested that it should be described under the Nandopsis complex by Warren Burgess where you may find the cichlid listed in older literature . Sven Kullander since listed the cichlid under the Herichthys complex where it is now considered and widely described under . However of note , Robert Rush Miller did not support the Herichthys suggestion and named it ‘ Cichlasoma ’ bartoni in his book “ Freshwater Fishes of Mexico ”. There are 12 species within the Herichthys complex , 9 valid , 3 potentially undescribed , this does not include the 5 synonyms . It is regarded that there are two groups to separate the complex . First group is the Herichthys labridens group , the other is Herichthys cyanoguttatus . Which group H . bartoni belongs to is open to opinion , however , many experts believe that it is more likely part of the H . cyanoguttatus group . Diagnostic traits appear to bear little resemblance to the H . labridens group , but black-white breeding colours , feeding behaviour red to purple scales- less zones behind the pectoral fins seems for some to link them more to H . cyanoguttatus ?
Biotope Information
Herichthys bartoni is found in the many Rio Verde valley springs , Media Luna perhaps being the largest . Media Luna is situated in the Rio Verde Valley in the San Luis Potosí state , Central Mexico . Part of the Rio Panuco basin , It is divided into 3 separate biotopes- the main spring , the natural channel and the man-made drainage channels . The water is mainly calm except in the irrigation channels with clear visibility and temperatures between 27- 32C / 81-90F . Northern ranges can experience much lower temperatures in winter and the dry season .
The natural channel and surrounding Río Verde valley . © Rune Evjeberg / Freshwater Biotopes
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