Amphilophus is a genus

Genus

In biology, a genus is a low-level taxonomic rank used in the biological classification of living and fossil organisms, which is an example of definition by genus and differentia...

 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...

 fishes from Central America

Central America

Central America is the central geographic region of the Americas. It is the southernmost, isthmian portion of the North American continent, which connects with South America on the southeast. When considered part of the unified continental model, it is considered a subcontinent...

. The genus currently contains 23 species. However, a 2008 study led by Oldrich Rican suggested that several species within Amphilophus should be moved to the genus Astatheros. Species proposed to be moved to Astatheros are A. alfari, A. altifrons, A. bussingi, A. diquis, A. longimanus, A. macracanthus (which would be the type species

Type species

In biological nomenclature, a type species is both a concept and a practical system which is used in the classification and nomenclature of animals and plants. The value of a "type species" lies in the fact that it makes clear what is meant by a particular genus name. A type species is the species...

 for Astatheros), A. margaritifer, A. rhytisma, A. robertsoni and A. rostratus. Rican's study suggests that the Astatheros species are more closely related to the Jack Dempsey

Jack Dempsey (fish)

The Jack Dempsey is a cichlid fish that is widely distributed across North and Central America...

 and Rainbow Cichlid

Rainbow cichlid

The rainbow cichlid is a tropical freshwater Central American fish of the cichlid family. It was formerly the sole species of the genus Herotilapia, but has since been reclassified to the species Archocentrus, based on a study by Juan Schmitter-Soto...

 than to the remaining Amphilophus species.

Species

• Amphilophus alfari Meek, 1907
• Amphilophus altifrons Kner, 1863
• Amphilophus amarillo Stauffer & McKaye, 2002
• Amphilophus astorquii Stauffer, McCrary & Black, 2008
• Amphilophus bussingi Loiselle, 1997
• Amphilophus calobrensis Meek & Hildebrand, 1913
• Amphilophus chancho Stauffer, McCrary & Black, 2008
• Amphilophus citrinellus
  Amphilophus citrinellus
  Amphilophus citrinellus is a large cichlid fish endemic to the San Juan River and adjacent watersheds in Costa Rica and Nicaragua. In the aquarium trade A. citrinellus is often sold under the trade name of Midas cichlid. A. citrinellus are omnivorous and their diet consists of plant material,...
  
  Günther, 1864
• Amphilophus diquis Bussing, 1974
• Amphilophus flaveolus Stauffer, McCrary & Black, 2008
• Amphilophus globosus Geiger, McCrary, & Stauffer, 2010

• Amphilophus hogaboomorum Carr & Giovannoli, 1950
• Amphilophus labiatus
  Amphilophus labiatus
  Amphilophus labiatus is a large cichlid fish endemic to Lake Managua and Lake Nicaragua in Central America. In the aquarium trade A. labiatus is often sold under the trade name of red devil, a common name which they share with Amphilophus citrinellus.-Appearance:Colouration in wild specimens is...
  
  Günther, 1864
• Amphilophus longimanus Günther, 1867
• Amphilophus lyonsi Gosse, 1966
• Amphilophus macracanthus Günther, 1864
• Amphilophus margaritifer Günther, 1862
• Amphilophus nourissati Allgayer, 1989
• Amphilophus rhytisma López, 1983
• Amphilophus robertsoni Regan, 1905
• Amphilophus rostratus Gill, 1877
• Amphilophus supercilius Geiger, McCrary, & Stauffer, 2010
• Amphilophus sagittae Stauffer & McKaye, 2002
• Amphilophus xiloaensis Stauffer & McKaye, 2002
• Amphilophus zaliosus Barlow & Munsey, 1976