Mesoheros festae

(Boulenger, 1899)

Vernacular names
English : Guayas cichlid
French : Cichlidé étendard

Classification
Class : Teleostei
Order : Cichliformes (sometimes still Perciformes)
Family : Cichlidae
Notes : No subspecies known.

Identification
Adults can reach a length of 25 cm. Laterally compressed deep body, males are deeper bodied and have a hump on forehead. Coloration bright orange to orange red with vertical black bars on nape and flanks. Blue dots on male’s fins.

Range and habitat
The species lives in South America and occurs on Pacific Slopes of Ecuador and Peru, from Esmeraldas River to Tumbes River. Lives in small to medium-sized rivers.

Conservation
IUCN RED LIST : NOT LISTED
CITES : Not Listed
Status : The species has a fairly big range but its status has yet to be assessed. May be vulnerable to over-trapping for animal trade.
Ex-Situ Programs : None known

Observation

 

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