are there "convicts" in Belize

[newworldsss]

in the process of pre pre planning of a 2011 collecting trip, just looking at species in a few select countries, are there "convicts" in belize?

[Rico Morgenstern]

No, at least they do not occur naturally there. The only similar species occuring in Belize is Cryptoheros spilurus (reclassified as Cryptoheros chetumalensis by Schmitter-Soto 2007, however, the status and geographical limits of this supposed species need further investigasion). Another species occuring in Belize, Rocio octofasciata, had sometimes been confused with C. nigrofasciatus even though it is unrelated and strikingly distinct.

[newworldsss]

thanks for the info i was aware of the other species but never found any concrete info on "convicts" being there, as for chetumalensis i heard spilurum and chetumalensis were two described species? i heard spilurum from belize are very nice i brought back some from izabal a few years back, one of my favorites another grey fish.....

[Rico Morgenstern]

Cryptoheros chetumalensis is indeed an available species name. In fact, the description is the result of splitting up C. spilurus into three species (the third is C. cutteri from Honduras). While C. cutteri is clearly distinct, the validity of C. chetumalensis is not convincingly demonstrated. If it is really valid as originally described, the name C. spilurus has to be deleted from the list of cichlid species occuring in Belize and has to be replaced by C. chetumalensis

As you have collected C. spilurus at Lago Izabal, the type locality (could you post some pics of your fish please?), you can be sure to to have the true one. So if you bring back 'spilurus-like' cichlids from Belize, you will be in the fortunate position to compare them directly.