About Cichlasoma trimaculatum (Günther, 1867)
The three spot cichlid, also commonly called the trimac or red-eyed cichlid, is a species of cichlid in the subfamily Cichlasomatinae native to Mexico and Central America. This species is rarely kept as an aquarium fish. Taxonomic classification of this species varies between authorities: FishBase still classifies it as a highly unusual member of the genus Cichlasoma, under the scientific name Cichlasoma trimaculatum (Günther, 1867), while other sources including the Catalog of Fishes have reclassified it into the genus Amphilophus, where it is referred to as Amphilophus trimaculatum.
In its native range, the threespot cichlid inhabits slow-flowing sections of lower river valleys along the Pacific Slope of Central America, stretching from Mexico to Panama. It prefers areas with muddy or sandy substrates, and can be found among roots and aquatic weeds. It has been recorded as an introduced species in Singapore, as well as in Florida and Nevada in the United States; however, the introduced populations in Florida and Nevada have been completely extirpated.
