Short synopsis of Astatheros Pellegrin, 1904

Type species: Heros macracanthus Günther, 1864

Distinctive characters:

Species currently included:

Amphilophus alfari	C
Amphilophus altifrons	C
Amphilophus bussingi	C
Amphilophus diquis	C
Amphilophus longimanus	C
Amphilophus macracanthus	C
Amphilophus margaritifer	C, S
Amphilophus rhytisma	C, A(Aquarium)
Amphilophus robertsoni	C, H(Laguna Noh), H(Cenote Escondido)
Amphilophus rostratus	C

C=CRC Catalogue, E=Note on Ecology, S=Note on systematic status

Distribution: Altlantic and Pazific versant from South México to Panama.

Further information: Astatheros Pellegrin, 1904 (type species: Heros heterodontus) was considered as synonyms to Amphilophus by Kullander (2003). Evidence from molecular phylogenies, however, suggest that Amphilophus is polyphyletic and Aststheros a natural group (Martin & Bermingham, 1998; Hulsey et al. 2004; Concheiro et al. 2007), so that some authors consider Astatheros as valid (Stauffer & McKaye, 2002; Kranefeld & Schindler, 2005).