set new standards in systematics and evolutionary biolo-
gy. In 2011, McMaham and his colleagues put what they
considered evidence on the table: Cichlasoma synspilum
Hubbs, 1935 is a junior synonym of Heros melanurus
Günther, 1862. In 2016 Rícan et al. reclassified the
species as Vieja melanura. So much for the theory; now to
the practice.
One or two species?
I would call 1975 to 2000 the aquarist heyday for all Cen-
tral American cichlids. It was during this time that the
pioneers of the hobby introduced these fishes in Europe,
and especially in Germany, often under the most adverse
conditions. Through their efforts—publications, lectures,
films, and documentaries—Central American cichlids
entered numerous living rooms and become increasingly
popular. I got some of them myself at the beginning of
the 1990s, and have been keeping them ever since.
From the beginning, Cichlasoma synspilum Hubbs
1935 (in this article I use the old names—see green box)
was—not without reason—one of the most popular “bull
cichlids.” Its splendid colors, its imposing appearance,
and the relative ease of its care made it a lasting favorite
in the hobby. Everyone knows the Firehead or Quetzal
Cichlid. I, too, am crazy about this great fish. It is quite
variable in terms of coloring and markings. Over the years,
I have kept different “variants,” which differ primarily in
coloring—at least at first sight. But ultimately, I came to
the conclusion that they are all the same. They have a red
head, varying in intensity. The posterior part of the bodyAMAZONAS
A typically colored pair of Cichlasoma
synspilum in the author’s aquarium.