# Hypsophrys

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{{Short description|Genus of fishes}}
{{Speciesbox
| image = Hypsophrys nicaraguensis.jpg
| status = LC
| status_system = IUCN3.1
| status_ref = <ref name = iucn>{{cite iucn |author=Lyons, T.J. |name-list-style=& |author2=Angulo, A. |year=2020 |title=''Hypsophrys nicaraguensis'' |article-number=e.T152306028A152306231 |doi=10.2305/IUCN.UK.2020-2.RLTS.T152306028A152306231.en |access-date=2 July 2025}}</ref>
| taxon = Hypsophrys nicaraguensis
| display_parents = 3
| parent_authority = [Agassiz](/source/Louis_Agassiz), 1859<ref name = "Cof family/>
| authority= ([Albert Günther](/source/Albert_G%C3%BCnther), 1864)<ref name = "Cof family/>
| synonyms = {{Specieslist
| Heros nicaraguensis | Günther, 1864
| Cichlasoma nicaraguense | (Günther, 1864)
| Copora nicaraguensis | (Günther, 1864) 
| Hypsophrys unimaculatus | [Agassiz](/source/Louis_Agassiz), 1859 
| Heros balteatus | [T.N. Gill](/source/Theodore_Nicholas_Gill), 1877
| Cichlasoma balteatum' | (T.N. Gill, 1877)
| Cichlasoma spilotum | [Meek](/source/Seth_Eugene_Meek), 1912
}}
| synonyms_ref = <ref name = "Cof genus">{{Cof genus|genus=Hypsophrys|access-date=2 July 2025}}</ref> 
}}

'''''Hypsophrys''''' is a [monospecific genus](/source/monospecific_genus) of freshwater [ray-finned fish](/source/Actinopterygii) belonging to the [family](/source/Family_(taxonomy)) [Cichlidae](/source/Cichlidae), the cichlids. The only species in this genus is '''''Hypsophrys unimaculatus''''', the '''moga''', '''butterfly cichlid''', '''macaw cichlid''', '''parrot cichlid''' or '''Nicaragua cichlid''', a fish found on the Atlantic slope of Central America.

==Taxonomy==
''Hypsophrys'' was first proposed as a monospecific genus by the Swiss-born American [naturalist](/source/naturalist) [Louis Agassiz](/source/Louis_Agassiz) in 1859 when he named ''Hypsophrys unimaculatus'', describing it only as "A second [genus](/source/genus), resembling Chrysophrys, he called Hypsophrys unimaculatus", which would normally be regarded as invalid, as no distinguishing details were given.<ref name = "Cof family">{{Cof family|family=Cichlinae|access-date=2 July 2025}}</ref> ''Hypsophrys nicaraguensis'' was first formally [described](/source/Species_description) as ''Heros nicaraguensis'' in 1864 by the German-born British [herpetologist](/source/herpetologist) and [ichthyologist](/source/ichthyologist) [Albert Günther](/source/Albert_G%C3%BCnther), with its [type locality](/source/Type_locality_(biology)) given as [Lake Nicaragua](/source/Lake_Nicaragua) in Nicaragua.<ref name = "Cof genus"/> ''H. unimaculatus'' is treated as a [senior synonym](/source/senior_synonym) of ''H. nicaraguensis'', and is the [type species](/source/type_species) of the genus ''Hypsophrys'' by [monotypy](/source/monotypy).<ref name = "Cof family"/> This taxon is classified within the [tribe](/source/Tribe_(biology)) [Heroini](/source/Heroini)<ref name = Smith>{{cite journal | author1 = Wm. Leo Smith | author2 = Prosanta Chakrabarty | author3 = John S. Sparks | year=2008 | title = Phylogeny, taxonomy, and evolution of Neotropical cichlids (Teleostei: Cichlidae: Cichlinae) | url = http://static1.squarespace.com/static/54a3679de4b0d88dbda40971/t/54a3aa48e4b01142025f09fc/1420012104511/20_SmithetalCichlinae.pdf | journal = Cladistics  | volume = 24 | issue = 5 | pages = 624–641}}</ref> of the [subfamily](/source/subfamily) [Cichlinae](/source/Cichlinae), the American cichlids, of the family Cichlidae,<ref name = "Cof family"/> within the order Cichliformes.<ref name = ECoF>{{cite web |author1=Richard van der Laan |author1-link=Richard van der Laan |author2=William N. Eschmeyer |author2-link=William N. Eschmeyer |author3=Ronald Fricke |author3-link=Ronald Fricke |title=Eschmeyer's Catalog of Fishes Classification |url=https://www.calacademy.org/scientists/catalog-of-fishes-classification |work=[Eschmeyer's Catalog of Fishes](/source/Eschmeyer's_Catalog_of_Fishes) |publisher=[California Academy of Sciences](/source/California_Academy_of_Sciences) |access-date=1 July 2025}}</ref>

''[Neetroplus nematopus](/source/Neetroplus_nematopus)'', the poor man's tropheus, was briefly brought into ''Hypsophrys'' from the monotypic genus ''Neetroplus'' in 2007.<ref name="pfk">{{cite news|url=http://www.practicalfishkeeping.co.uk/pfk/pages/item.php?news=1399|title=Convict and Jack Dempsey placed in new genera|access-date=2008-06-27 | work=Practical Fishkeeping |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20071228234519/http://www.practicalfishkeeping.co.uk/pfk/pages/item.php?news=1399 |archive-date = 2007-12-28}}</ref> However, genetic analysis in 2016 demonstrated that the poor man's tropheus should be in a separate genus, and resurrected ''Neetroplus'', restating the old scientific name, ''Neetroplus nematopus''.<ref name=rican>{{cite journal|title=Diversity and evolution of the Middle American cichlid fishes (Teleostei: Cichlidae) with revised classification|author=Říčan, O.|author2=Piálek, L.|author3=Dragová, K.|author4=Novák, J.|name-list-style=amp|journal=Vertebrate Zoology|pages=1–102|volume=66|issue=1|year=2016|doi=10.3897/vz.66.e31534 |url=https://www.senckenberg.de/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/01_vertebrate_zoology_66-1_rican_1-102.pdf|access-date=2019-01-25 |doi-access=free }}</ref>

==Etymology==
''Hypsophryss'' combines ''hypso'', meaning "high", with ''ophrys'', which means "eyebrow", an allusion Agassiz did not explain, nor is it clear. It may be related to Agassiz's observation that this taxon looked lie ''[Chrysophrys](/source/Chrysophrys)''. The [specific name](/source/Specific_name_(zoology)), ''nicaraguensis'', refers to the type localaity of Lake Nicaragua.<ref name  = ETYFish>{{cite web |url=https://etyfish.org/cichlidae7/ |title=Order CICHLIFORMES: Family CICHLIDAE: Subfamily CICHLINAE (d-w) |date=21 June 2025 |access-date=2 July 2025 |author=Christopher Scharpf |work=The ETYFish Project Fish Name Etymology Database |publisher=Christopher Scharpf}}</ref>

==Description==
''Hypsophrys'' has a fusiform, laterally compressed body. The [dorsal fin](/source/dorsal_fin) is supported by 18 or 19 spines and between 9 and 11 soft rays, while the [anal fin](/source/anal_fin) contains 7 or spines and between 7 and 9 soft rays. There is a dark line which runs along the mid-flank, with a large black blotch located in the centre of the flank. The head has a very curved profile, and the mouth is on the lower part of the head. The males have scales with dark edges, creating a network-like pattern, and there are many dark spots on the fin, with a red margin to the dorsal fin. They also have an iridescent, greenish-blue head, and gold to coppery bodies. This species has a maximum [standard length](/source/standard_length) of {{cvt|16.5|cm}}.<ref name = Fishbase>{{FishBase|Hypsophrys|nicaraguensis|month=April|year=2025}}</ref>

==Distribution and habitat==
''Hypsophrys'' is endemic to the Atlantic slope of Central America, with a disjunct range that extends from the [Coco River](/source/Coco_River) in southern Honduras and Nicaragua, and the drainage basin of Lake Nicaragua as far south as the [Matina River](/source/Matina_River) in Costa Rica.<ref name = iucn/> It may have been introduced to [Hawaii](/source/Hawaii) and the Philippines.<ref name = fws>{{cite web |url=https://www.fws.gov/sites/default/files/documents/Ecological-Risk-Screening-Summary-Moga.pdf |title=Moga (''Hypsophrys nicaraguensis'') Ecological Risk Screening Summary |date=February 2019 |access-date=2 July 2025 |publisher=[United States Fish and Wildlife Service](/source/United_States_Fish_and_Wildlife_Service)}}</ref> This species is found in lakes and rivers with slow to moderate currents, at elevations between {{cvt|5|and|200|m }}.<ref name = Fishbase>{{FishBase|Hypsophrys|nicaraguensis|month=April|year=2025}}</ref>

==Biology==
''Hypsophrys nicaraguensis'' feed on aquatic insects as juveniles, while adults feed on bottom detritus, seeds and leaves, as well as on snails and other molluscs.

The females each deposit between 200 and 400 eggs in a shallow, excavated depression, and the eggs are guarded by a small group of females, a behaviour known as creching. These guard the combined spawning area from conspecifics and potential predators.<ref name = Fishbase/>

==Utilistation==
''Hypsophrys'' are targeted by subsistence and artisanal fishermen, particularly around Lake Nicaragua. ''Hypsophrys nicaraguensis'' is also a popular aquarium fish.<ref name = iucn/>

==References==
{{Reflist}}

{{Taxonbar|from=Q975356}}

Category:Hypsophrys
Category:Heroini
Category:Freshwater fish of Central America
Category:Cichlid genera
Category:Taxa named by Louis Agassiz
Category:Taxa named by Albert Günther
Category:Monotypic fish genera

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Hypsophrys](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hypsophrys) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hypsophrys?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.