Following Morgenstern (2018) we have placed Cichlasoma urophthalmus stenozonum in junior synonym of Mayaheros urophthalmus.

Based on Oliver Lucanus (2018) account on this potentially new species, we have included it in the cichlid catalog with a character of potentially undescribed, so future references to this form can be addressed to its own record.

The Cichlid Room Companion reaches today 22 uninterrupted years online!.

Based on arguments presented in Artigas Azas, 2018, we reclassify R. gemmata as a junior synonym of R. octofasciata.

We include two new potentially undescribed species of Lepidiolamprologus from Lake Tanganyika in the cichlid catalog: Lepidiolamprologus sp. 'hecqui mahale' and L. sp. 'meeli southeast'.

You can now activate your public profile page with your favorite species and social media information by checking 'Activate public profile' in your user editing form. The URL for your public profile will be then given in your user information for you to share.

A table with the number of species in the cichlids catalog, tabulated by geographic area and taxonomic status is now available.

Due to the fact that we have not been able to find a clear diagnosis that may differentiate Vieja sp. 'coatzacoalcos' from V. zonata we have removed the former from our catalog, this is done until a clear diagnosis becomes available. We recognize that all species exhibit a certain degree of variability and should not confuse this with a specific differentiation.

Based on Li et at (2016) we have merged the records of Pseudotropeus sp. 'elongatus slab' with those of Chindongo bellicosus, considered the same species.

With the purpose to integrate the family groups classification for the family Cichlidae we have followed the latest works that incorporate extensive DNA comparison techniques and the valid family groups names available. For American cichlids we have trusted the latest proposal by Smith et al (2008) accepting the suggestions given by Říčan et all (Říčan et al, 2016). Several family group names and diagnoses were taken from Kullander (Kullander, 1998) and other sources. For African tilapines we have followed Dunz et al (2013), their diagnoses and proposed family group names. For Lake Tanganyika cichlids we have followed Poll (1986) and Takahashi (2003, 2016). For Madagascar and Indian cichlids we have followed Sparks (2004) and used his diagnoses. Some areas are still in need of a valid classification, so we will update the present classification as new information becomes available.

Today the Cichlid Room Companion has reached twenty uninterrupted years online! Thanks to all our contributors, supporters and over all to our visitors for making this possible.

We have adopted the proposed classification based on Rican et al 2016 treatment of Central American cichlids which includes nine new genera (Chocoheros, Chortiheros, Cribroheros, Darienheros, Isthmoheros, Kronoheros, Mayaheros, Talamancaheros, Wajpamheros) plus the diagnosis of other genera and the reposition of several species into new genera.

For our mobile users now we have Quick Response Code images at the bottom of each site document, this way you can easily scan it from a screen and open the document in your mobile devices.

Given the increasing number of people accessing the site from mobile devices, we have worked during the past couple of weeks to make it 100% mobile friendly, something we have achieved today. Enjoy!.

We adopt in the cichlid catalog most of the general proposed by McMahan et all in 2015: Chiapaheros, Cincelichthys, Kihnichthys, Maskaheros, Mesoheros, Rheoheros and Trichromis for Central American cichlids (or from Central American origin in the case of Mesoheros). For the time being we reserve the use of Oscura until more support for it is available. We also synonymize Nosferatu with Herichthys following Mejia (2015). At this point with the available support (e.g. McMahan et all, 2005) we adopt the synonymy of Paratheraps with Vieja proposed by Allgayer (1991) because we believe a good degree of support and nomenclature stability has been achieved. The update of the respective profiles will be done in the coming weeks.

Because of new evidence, we have removed the profile of Tropheops sp. 'lucerna nkhata', which very likely corresponds to Pseudotropheus lucerna. The details will be given in the species profile shortly.

We have added 11 new potentially undescribed cichlid species endemic to the northern satellite lakes of Lake Malawi to the catalog. We base the inclusion in the paper Malinsky, Milan & Richard J. Challis, Alexandra M. Tyers, Stephan Schiffels, Yohey Terai, Benjamin P. Ngatunga, Eric A. Miska, Richard Durbin, Martin J. Genner, George F. Turner. 2015. "Genomic islands of speciation separate cichlid ecomorphs in an East African crater lake". Science. v. 350(n. 6267), pp. 1493-1498. The list of the new potentially undescribed species is: Astatotilapia sp. 'ikapu dark', Astatotilapia sp. 'ilamba black', Astatotilapia sp. 'itamba dark', Astatotilapia sp. 'itende', Astatotilapia sp. 'kingiri black', Astatotilapia sp. 'massoko benthic', Astatotilapia sp. 'massoko littoral', Oreochromis sp. 'golden chambo', Otopharynx sp. 'Ilamba tetrastigma', Rhamphochromis sp. 'kingiri brevis', Rhamphochromis sp. 'kingiri dwarf'.

We now offer alternative distribution maps for species. When we have more than one map that covers part or the whole of the distribution for one species, that map will be listed as an alternative map as a link under the active distribution map for the species, by clicking on it the alternative map can be obtained.

In the genera distribution maps, you can now select the species for which you want to plot their distributions on the map.

The bibliography for a species now inherits those references that deal with its junior synonyms. To flag inherited references a trailing text has been added to each of them: The text “Referring to …” gives the indication that the paper refers to the species as its junior synonym (or any of its historic name combinations). The text “Referring also …” gives the indication that the junior synonym (or any of its historic name combinations) is treated in the paper in addition to the currently accepted name. An example of the latter is a paper proposing the synonymy of one species to another, in this case both proposed synonyms (junior and senior) are treated in the same paper.