Paretroplus gymnopreopercularis is a species of 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...

 fish from the vicinity of the confluence of the Amboaboa and Mangarahara Rivers near Mandritsara

Mandritsara

Mandritsara is a city and commune in northern Madagascar. It belongs to the district of Mandritsara, which is a part of Sofia Region. The population of the commune was estimated to be approximately 17,000 in 2001 commune census....

 in northern Madagascar

Madagascar

The Republic of Madagascar is an island country located in the Indian Ocean off the southeastern coast of Africa...

. Until its official scientific description

Binomial nomenclature

Binomial nomenclature is a formal system of naming species of living things by giving each a name composed of two parts, both of which use Latin grammatical forms, although they can be based on words from other languages...

 in 2008, it was temporarily known as the Paretroplus nov. sp. "sofia". It is endangered

Endangered species

An endangered species is a population of organisms which is at risk of becoming extinct because it is either few in numbers, or threatened by changing environmental or predation parameters...

 because of habitat degradation, over-fishing and invasive species

Invasive species

"Invasive species", or invasive exotics, is a nomenclature term and categorization phrase used for flora and fauna, and for specific restoration-preservation processes in native habitats, with several definitions....

. Following the construction of a dam

Dam

A dam is a barrier that impounds water or underground streams. Dams generally serve the primary purpose of retaining water, while other structures such as floodgates or levees are used to manage or prevent water flow into specific land regions. Hydropower and pumped-storage hydroelectricity are...

 on the Mangarahara River, surveys have failed to relocate P. gymnopreopercularis in this river.

This relatively elongate Paretroplus

Paretroplus

Paretroplus is a genus of fishes in the cichlid family, all of which are endemic to lakes and rivers of Madagascar. The vast majority are threatened and restricted to the northwestern part of the island. Only P. polyactis is found in the southern half of Madagascar and only P. polyactis and P....

reaches about 15 centimetres (5.9 in) in length and is closely related to P. kieneri

Kotsovato

The kotsovato is a vulnerable species of cichlid fish from northwestern Madagascar. As presently defined its range spans several river basins, but this could possibly include more than one species. It is threatened by habitat loss and competition from introduced species...

, which it resembles. P. nourissati

Paretroplus nourissati

The lamena is a vulnerable species of cichlid fish from the vicinity of the confluence of the Amboaboa and Mangarahara Rivers near Mandritsara in northern Madagascar. This relatively elongate Paretroplus reaches about in length, and is closely related to P. lamenabe and P.tsimoly. P...

is found in the same region as P. gymnopreopercularis, but the latter appears to be restricted to deeper pools in the river (the former is from shallow, fast-flowing sections). The member of another cichlid genus, Ptychochromis insolitus

Ptychochromis insolitus

Ptychochromis insolitus is a critically endangered species of fish in the Cichlidae family. It is endemic to the Amboaboa and Mangarahara Rivers near Mandritsara in northern Madagascar. Prior to its official description, it was sometimes known as Ptychochromis sp. nov. "Joba mena" or Ptychochromis...

, is also restricted to the region.