Original description as Cichla ocellaris:
ZooBank:0AB9AD36-2215-402F-A110-647F86C4E888.
- Bloch, Marcus Elieser & J.G. Schneider. 1801. "M. E. Blochii, Systema Ichthyologiae iconibus cx illustratum. Post obitum auctoris opus inchoatum absolvit, correxit, interpolavit Jo. Gottlob Schneider, Saxo. Berolini". Sumtibus Austoris Impressum et Bibliopolio Sanderiano Commissum. Systema Ichthyol:i-lx + 1-584 (crc00288) (abstract)
Synonyms (1):
- Acharnes speciosus Müller & Troschel, 1849, with type locality at Essequibo River, Guyana. Determiner: Kullander & Nijssen, 1989
Conservation: Cichla ocellaris is not evaluated by the international union for the conservation of nature in the iucn red list of threatened species. French Guiana, Surinam, Guyana, and Brazil, in the Marowijne, Suriname, Saramacca, Nickerie, Corantijn, Berbice, Essequibo, and Branco drainages (Kullander & Ferreira, 2006:306).
Cichla ocellaris is an excellent sport fish, and for this reason, has been introduced to various water bodies throughout its native range and in other countries, including Hawaii, Puerto Rico, and Panama (Zaret, 1980:145). In Panama, its presence has had measurable and dramatic effects on the local fish fauna (Zaret & Paine, 1973).