''Chapalichthys'' is a

genus Genus (; : genera ) is a taxonomic rank above species and below family (taxonomy), family as used in the biological classification of extant taxon, living and fossil organisms as well as Virus classification#ICTV classification, viruses. In bino ...

splitfin Goodeidae is a family of teleost fish endemic to Mexico and some areas of the United States. Many species are known as splitfins. This family contains about 50 species within 18 genera. The family is named after ichthyologist George Brown Goode ...

s that are

endemic Endemism is the state of a species being found only in a single defined geographic location, such as an island, state, nation, country or other defined zone; organisms that are indigenous to a place are not endemic to it if they are also foun ...

to west-central

Mexico Mexico, officially the United Mexican States, is a country in North America. It is the northernmost country in Latin America, and borders the United States to the north, and Guatemala and Belize to the southeast; while having maritime boundar ...

, where found in lakes, pools, ponds and channels in the Lerma– Chapala– Grande de Santiago and Balsas basins. ''Chapalichthys'' reach up to in

standard length Fish measurement is the measuring of individual fish and various parts of fish anatomy, their anatomies, for data used in many areas of ichthyology, including Taxonomy (biology), taxonomy and fishery biology. Overall length Standard length (SL) is ...

. Despite this relatively small size, they are often caught as food in Lake Chapala.

Species

There are currently three species in this genus according to

FishBase FishBase is a global species database of fish species (specifically finfish). It is the largest and most extensively accessed online database on adult finfish on the web.

, but some authorities only recognize two, treating ''C. peraticus'' as a

junior synonym In taxonomy, the scientific classification of living organisms, a synonym is an alternative scientific name for the accepted scientific name of a taxon. The botanical and zoological codes of nomenclature treat the concept of synonymy differently. ...

of ''C. pardalis''. * '' Chapalichthys encaustus'' (

D. S. Jordan David Starr Jordan (January 19, 1851 – September 19, 1931) was the founding president of Stanford University, serving from 1891 to 1913. He was an ichthyologist during his research career. Prior to serving as president of Stanford Universi ...

& Snyder, 1899) (Barred splitfin) * '' Chapalichthys pardalis''

Álvarez Álvarez or Álvares may refer to: People *Álvarez (surname), Spanish surname Places * Alvares (river), a river in northern Spain * Alvares (ski resort), in Iran * Alvares, Iran * Alvares, Portugal * Álvarez, Santa Fe, a town in the province of ...

, 1963 (Polka-dot splitfin) * '' Chapalichthys peraticus''

, 1963 (Alien splitfin)

References

Goodeinae Freshwater fish of Mexico Endemic fish of Mexico Freshwater fish genera Taxa named by Seth Eugene Meek Ray-finned fish genera {{Cyprinodontiformes-stub