Original description as Apistogramma atahualpa:
ZooBank:8868A6BB-B427-4DC8-A242-8512C286AB7E.
- Römer, Uwe. 1997. "Diagnoses of two new dwarf cichlids (Teleostei; Perciformes) from Peru, Apistogramma atahualpa and Apistogramma panduro n. spp". Buntbarsche Bulletin. (182):9-14 (crc00360)
Conservation: Apistogramma atahualpa is evaluated by the international union for the conservation of nature in the iucn red list of threatened species as (DD) data deficient (2014). There is uncertainty about the distribution and population size, trends, and threats that may be affecting Apistogramma atahualpa (Chuctaya et al., 2016).