Heros genus
Encyclopedia
Heros is a genus
which includes several fish species in the Cichlid
ae family. They are native to rivers in the Amazon
and Orinoco basins in South America
. These were often previously included in the "catch-all" genus Cichlasoma
.
Most commonly encountered in the aquarium
trade is the severum
, Heros severus, available commercially in its gold coloration as well as the wild-type green. It is unclear whether aquarium severums are actually Heros severus or whether they are Heros efasciatus
hybrids.
in this genus:
Some authorities recognize a fifth species, H. appendiculatus Castelnau, 1855, but it is treated as a synonym
of H. efasciatus by FishBase.
Genus
In biology, a genus is a low-level taxonomic rank used in the biological classification of living and fossil organisms, which is an example of definition by genus and differentia...
which includes several fish species in the Cichlid
Cichlid
Cichlids are fishes from the family Cichlidae in the order Perciformes. Cichlids are members of a group known as the Labroidei along with the wrasses , damselfish , and surfperches . This family is both large and diverse. At least 1,300 species have been scientifically described, making it one of...
ae family. They are native to rivers in the Amazon
Amazon Basin
The Amazon Basin is the part of South America drained by the Amazon River and its tributaries that drains an area of about , or roughly 40 percent of South America. The basin is located in the countries of Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, Guyana, Peru, and Venezuela...
and Orinoco basins in South America
South America
South America is a continent situated in the Western Hemisphere, mostly in the Southern Hemisphere, with a relatively small portion in the Northern Hemisphere. The continent is also considered a subcontinent of the Americas. It is bordered on the west by the Pacific Ocean and on the north and east...
. These were often previously included in the "catch-all" genus Cichlasoma
Cichlasoma
Cichlasoma is a genus of fish in the cichlid family.The genus was previously very large, including cichlids from Texas, North America, through all of Central America to parts of South America....
.
Most commonly encountered in the aquarium
Aquarium
An aquarium is a vivarium consisting of at least one transparent side in which water-dwelling plants or animals are kept. Fishkeepers use aquaria to keep fish, invertebrates, amphibians, marine mammals, turtles, and aquatic plants...
trade is the severum
Severum
The ', , is a freshwater tropical cichlid native to the Amazon region in South America. It is rarely found in the aquarium trade, The Fish commonly found in the Aquarium trade is not the , but the more common Heros efasciatus, Hybrids between the two are possible but unlikely because of different...
, Heros severus, available commercially in its gold coloration as well as the wild-type green. It is unclear whether aquarium severums are actually Heros severus or whether they are Heros efasciatus
Heros efasciatus
The common severum, Heros efaciatus , is a freshwater tropical cichlid native to the Amazon region in South America. It is commonly found in the aquarium trade, often in its gold colored variation rather than the wild-type olive green one. The gold coloration appears to be caused by a single gene...
hybrids.
Species
Four species are presently recognized by FishBaseFishBase
FishBase is a comprehensive database of information about fish species . It is the largest and most extensively accessed online database on adult finfish on the web...
in this genus:
- Heros efasciatusHeros efasciatusThe common severum, Heros efaciatus , is a freshwater tropical cichlid native to the Amazon region in South America. It is commonly found in the aquarium trade, often in its gold colored variation rather than the wild-type olive green one. The gold coloration appears to be caused by a single gene...
Heckel, 1840 - Heros notatus (Jardine in Schomburgk, 1843)
- Heros severus Heckel, 1840 – also known as severumSeverumThe ', , is a freshwater tropical cichlid native to the Amazon region in South America. It is rarely found in the aquarium trade, The Fish commonly found in the Aquarium trade is not the , but the more common Heros efasciatus, Hybrids between the two are possible but unlikely because of different...
or banded cichlid - Heros spurius Heckel, 1840
Some authorities recognize a fifth species, H. appendiculatus Castelnau, 1855, but it is treated as a synonym
Synonym (taxonomy)
In scientific nomenclature, a synonym is a scientific name that is or was used for a taxon of organisms that also goes by a different scientific name. For example, Linnaeus was the first to give a scientific name to the Norway spruce, which he called Pinus abies...
of H. efasciatus by FishBase.