Vieja
Vieja maculicauda
Vieja melanurus
Scientific classification
Domain:	Eukaryota
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Actinopterygii
Order:	Cichliformes
Family:	Cichlidae
Tribe:	Heroini
Genus:	Vieja Fernández-Yépez, 1969
Synonyms
Paratheraps Werner & Stawikowski, 1987

Vieja is a genus of cichlid fish from Central America and Mexico. The majority of the species are freshwater fish found in stagnant or slow-moving waters of southern Mexico to El Salvador, but V. maculicauda, which also occurs in brackish waters, ranges south to Panama.^[1] They are high-bodied cichlids that reach lengths of up to 17–35 cm (7–14 in) depending on the exact species.^[2] Vieja feed mostly on vegetable matter, but may also take small invertebrates.^[2]

Taxonomy and species

Historically, Vieja was included in Cichlasoma. Once recognized as its own genus, it sometimes included most of the superficially similar, relatively large and high-bodied cichlids of Central America and southern Mexico, but several of these are now considered to belong to separate genera: Chuco, Cincelichthys, Isthmoheros, Kihnichthys, Maskaheros and Oscura (Oscuro might still be better merged with Vieja, but this remains unconfirmed). Conversely, Vieja has sometimes been included in Paraneetroplus.^[1][3]

There are currently 8 recognized species in the genus Vieja:^[2]

• Vieja bifasciata (Steindachner, 1864) (Twoband cichlid)
• Vieja breidohri (U. Werner & Stawikowski, 1987) (Angostura cichlid)
• Vieja fenestrata (Günther, 1860)
• Vieja guttulata (Günther, 1864) (Amatitlan cichlid)
• Vieja hartwegi (J. N. Taylor & R. R. Miller, 1980) (Tailbar cichlid)
• Vieja maculicauda (Regan, 1905) (Blackbelt cichlid)
• Vieja melanurus (Günther, 1862) (Redhead cichlid)
• Vieja zonata (Meek, 1905) (Oaxaca cichlid)

In addition to these, two further species have commonly been recognized: The first is V. coatlicue, but today it is usually considered the Atlantic slope population of V. zonata.^[4] The second is V. synspilum, in which case V. melanurus is limited to the Lake Petén system, but a review found that the supposed differences between them are invalid.^[5]

Because of individual, regional and age-related variations, definite separation of some species can be difficult.^[6] Furthermore, hybrids occur, sometimes even between a Vieja species and a species from another heroine genus.^[7] The enigmatic Amphilophus margaritifer, sometimes still recognized as a valid species, is most likely a hybrid involving Thorichthys and Vieja.^[3][8]

References

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