Cichlid fishes (Teleostei, Cichlidae) collected by Ferdinand Deppe in Mexico

Abstract

The specimens of Cichlidae collected by Ferdinand Deppe during the first part of the 19th century in Mexico and housed in the Museum für Naturkunde, Berlin (ZMB) are described and their taxonomic status is clarified. Three species are recognized among Deppe's material, viz. Herichthys deppii (Heckel, 1840), Paraneetroplus nebuliferus (Günther, 1860) and P. fenestratus (Günther, 1860). Heros montezuma Heckel, 1840 as well as Herichthys geddesi Regan, 1905 are recognized as synonyms of Herichthys deppii. Heros parma Günther, 1862, Cichlosoma sexfasciatum Regan, 1905, and Cichlosoma gadovii Regan, 1905 are synonyms of P. fenestratus. A lectotype for Heros parma Günther, 1862 is designated. A short biography of Ferdinand Deppe is given and the collecting sites of his Cichlidae are located. The type locality of Heros deppii and Heros montezuma is Misantla, Veracruz, Mexico; that of Heros parma is the Rio Papaloapan at Tlacotalpán, Veracruz, Mexico.