280 
BULLETIN OF THE BUKEAU OF FISHERIES 
band; body and head, except snout, ever3rwhere with rusty spots; pectorals plain 
translucent; ventrals dusky; other fins slightly brownish and everjTwhere with rusty 
spots, usually surrounded by blue. Young witii alternating dark and light cross- 
bars; the dark lateral band more pronounced than in large examples, except occa- 
sionally in the very young (50 millimeters and less in length), in which it is often 
quite indistinct; these young with a prominent black spot on sides below lateral 
line at end of pectoral fin and a prominent caudal spot. Most specimens have a 
dark bar extending from the upper posterior margin of the eye across opercle; not 
quite connecting witli a dark spot just above base of pectoral; another dark bar, 
frequently consisting of two separate spots, extending from lower posterior margin 
of eye to lower margin of gill opening. 
This rather common lake fish is represented by many specunens, ranging from 
25 to 300 millimeters in length. The specimens in hand agree fairly well with 
published accounts of C. motaguense, the types of which are reported from the 
Rio Motagua, Atlantic slope, Guatemala, and subsequently other specimens were 
recorded from the "Pacific slope of Central America" from El Rancho, on the 
Rio Motagua, and from Belize. The El Salvador specimens were taken in lakes 
and ponds, not a single one having been secured in streams. The apparent differ- 
ence in habitat between the type specimens of C. motaguense and the El Salvador 
specimens suggests that they may not be identical. In the absence of material for 
comparison it seems advisable to refer the specimens in the present collection, 
tentatively at least, to C. motaguense. 
This is the most common and most important food fish in Lakes Ahuachapan 
and Coatepeque. In Lake Guija only one specimen was taken, and the species 
was not seen among the catches of native fishermen. In Lake Chanmico a few 
small individuals were taken. In three small, spring-fed reservoir ponds at El 
Angel, situated on private property where the fish are protected, this was the most 
common species, and the largest individual (330 millimeters in length) seen was 
taken in one of the ponds. 
In Lake Coatepeque this is the only food fish of importance taken. The only 
other cichlid found there is the small "burro," C. nigrofasciatum,. The fish in 
Lake Coatepeque are taken mostly with hook and line and in rather deep water. 
Several fishermen, during our visit, made fairly good catches fishing at a depth of 
25 meters. 
This "Guapote" is a good food fish, the flesh being fairly firm and of good 
flavor. It reaches a larger size than any of the other cichlids, the maximum size 
attained, according to a local fisherman on Lake Ahuachapan, being about 500 
millimeters. 
The spawning season and habits are very imperfectly or not at all known. 
The specimens examined had the sexual organs undeveloped, showing that the 
spawning season was not near at hand when the specimens were collected (Janu- 
ary and February). The food of this fish, according to 6 stomachs examined, in 
the young consists of entomostracans, insects and other small animal life, and algse. 
Larger individuals feed on fish, crustaceans, and probably on plants. 
