Considered a synonym of Amphilophus istlanus (Jordan & Snyder, 1899)
- Kullander, Sven. 2003. "Family Cichlidae (Cichlids)". Check list of the freshwater fishes of South and Central America. pp. 605-654 (crc01092)
Original description as Cichlasoma istlana fusca:
ZooBank:4F2389EC-FFC8-41F4-988B-64099FB1B17A.
- de Buen, Fernando. 1946. "Ictiogeografica Continental Mexicana (I, II, y III)". Revista de la Sociedad Mexicana de Historia Natural. n. 7; pp. 87-138 (crc01109)