Original description as Heros (Cichlasoma) spinosissimus:
ZooBank:E115CBE3-0AEE-42FA-8B3B-31DC278DE831.
- Vaillant, Leon Louis & J. Pellegrin. 1902. "Cichlidés nouveaux de l'Amérique Centrale". Bulletin du Musée National d'Histoire Naturelle. 8; pp 85-86 (crc00021)
Conservation: Rocio spinosissima is evaluated by the international union for the conservation of nature in the iucn red list of threatened species as (LC) least concern (2009).