Herichthys tepehua De la Maza-Benignos, Ornelas-García, Lozano-Vilano, García-Ramírez & Doadrio 2014

Herichthys tepehua is distinguished from H. deppii by having longer head (mean 37% SL, SD 2% SL vs. mean 35% SL, SD 1% SL), shorter distance from the anal fin origin to the hypural base (mean 39% SL, SD 2% SL vs. 42% SL , SD 1% SL), a larger eye (mean 26% HL, SD 3% vs. mean 24% HL, SD 2% HL). It can be diagnosed from H. carpintis in that it has a longer anal fin origin-hypural base distance (mean 39%, SD 2% vs. mean 38%, SD 2%) in SL; deeper cheeks (mean 32%, SD 4% vs. mean 28%, SD 4%) and longer snout (mean 39%, SD 4% vs. mean 37%, SD 3%) all in HL. It also differs from other congeners by the following autapomorphies: 2 conspicuous blue/ green parallel markings on the sides of the cheeks extending from the lip fold to the orbit of the eye. Ground color is blue-green. It shares with H. deppii the absence of iridescent spots/pearls on the body (Ref. 99935).

Dorsal spines (total): 15 - 17; Dorsal soft rays (total): 10 - 12; Anal spines: 4 - 6; Analsoft rays: 8 - 10

Herichthys tepehua is a species of cichlid endemic to Mexico where it occurs in the Pantepec, Cazones, Tenixtepec, Tecolutla and Solteros River drainages in the states of Veracruz and Puebla. The specific name alludes to the Tepehua ethnic group and language, these people live in eastern México, in the states of Veracruz and Puebla, in the region where this cichlid is found.

Female Herichthys tepehua from the Pantepec River Basin, Puebla, Mexico showing breeding colors in the aquarium

Herichthys tepehua from the Cazones River, Puebla, Mexico

Freshly collected Herichthys tepehua from the Tenixtepec River in Veracruz, Mexico

Freshly collected Herichthys tepehua from the Tecolutla River Basin

Herichthys tepehua collected in the Solteros River