Short synopsis of Thorichthys Meek, 1904

Type species: Thorichthys ellioti Meek, 1904

Distinctive characters: Miller & Nelson (1961) deliminated Thorichthys from the other 'Cichlasoma' (Herichthys and Heros inclusively) by the following characteristics:

• No scales on the basis of the soft part of the analis and dorsalis
• Truncate to lunate caudal fin, the lobes of which are typlically produced into filaments in the adult
• Extension of the pectoral fin backward to or usually well beyond the origin of the analis
• Produced snout with the preorbital region typically very deep
• Color pattern: 5 or six vertical bars behind the head (the first 4 prominent), the 3rd with a blackish blotch on or below the lateral line
• A red (from salmon to rose) intermandibular region
• Subopercle typically with a conspicuous blackish blotch
• Head and anterior body parts usually with prominent blue spots
• Consistent development of eight sensory pores (5 on the mandible) between the tip of the chin and the angle of the opercle

Species currently included:

Thorichthys affinis	C
Thorichthys aureus	C
Thorichthys callolepis	C
Thorichthys ellioti	C, N, A(Overview)
Thorichthys helleri	C, H (Arroyo Cristal), H (Rio Oxolotan)
Thorichthys meeki	C, H(Laguna Noh), H(Cenote Escondido), A(Overview)
Thorichthys pasionis	C, A(Overview)
Thorichthys socolofi	C, H(Laguna Noh)

C=CRC Catalogue, H=Habitat description, N=Note on nomenclature, A=Article

Distribution: Atlantic slope from South México, Belize, Guatemala and Honduras; from the Rio Papaloapan system to the Motagua drainage.

Further information: According to Hulsey et al. (2004), the genus Thorichthys is monophyletic. Miller & Taylor (1984) divided the genus Thorichthys in two groups of closely related species:

T. affinis-group	T. helleri-group
T. affinis	T. helleri
T. meeki	T. aureus
T. pasionis	T. callolepis
	T. ellioti (& T. sp. "Coatzacoalcos)
	T. socolofi

Within the genus Thorichthys, there apparently are one or several undescribed species.