Kingdom Animalia Order Perciformes Tribe Heroini Higher classification Cichlid | Phylum Chordata Family Cichlidae Scientific name Heros Rank Genus | |
Lower classifications Banded cichlid, Heros efasciatus, Heros notatus | ||
Heros is a genus of cichlids native to the Amazon, Orinoco and Essequibo River basins in South America. They were previously included in the genus Cichlasoma before its restriction to the distinct group of "Port Cichlids."
The Heros species most commonly encountered in the aquarium trade are fish referable to the species Heros efasciatus. However, the trade name generally used is "Severums." Trade fish are very often line bred specimens of color sports such as "Super Red Severums" or "Gold Severums." The provenance of these is not clear, but they seem to have been derived from the base "Green Severum" form that is most closely identified with H. efasciatus.
Species
There are currently five recognized species in this genus:
Many authorities also cite a previously described species, Heros appendiculatus. It has a form quite distinct from H. efasciatus but was synonymized with H. efasciatus by Dr. Sven Kullander. Two other color forms, Heros sp. Rotkeil ("Red Shoulder") and Heros sp. "Rio Casiquiare" are thought by hobby specialists to represent undescribed Heros species.
