Mayan cichlid

Cichlasoma urophthalmus

Cichlasoma urophthalmus, now reclassified as Mayaheros urophthalmus and commonly known as the Mayan cichlid, is a robust freshwater cichlid reaching up to 27 cm. It has an oval body with variable coloration from olive-brown to reddish, featuring 6 to 8 dark bars and a distinctive ocellus (eye-spot) on the caudal peduncle. Native to the Atlantic slope of Central America from Mexico's Yucatan Peninsula to Nicaragua, it inhabits cenotes, lagoons, rivers, and coastal brackish waters at depths of 0 to 20 meters. During breeding, both males and females develop intense red coloration on the belly and flanks. This species has undergone extensive taxonomic revision, having been placed in multiple genera including Cichlasoma, Nandopsis, Herichthys, and most recently Mayaheros. Cenote divers in Mexico frequently encounter breeding pairs displaying vivid red coloration in crystal-clear freshwater pools, where they aggressively guard their territory against all intruders.