The Allotoca from "Laguna de Zacapu" is described by KEES DE JONG Some species are kept for a while by aquarists before getting their scientific name. This is the case with the Allotoca-species that is to be found in Lake Zacapu. This Goodeid was first recognized as a new species by Derek Lambert from England and established among aquarists. Allotoca zacapuensis became known under the name "Allotoca spec. Zacapu " and also under the English name" Allotoca spec. Hummel ". Allotoca zacapuensis clearly differs from the other species of the genus Allotoca and this was the reason Meyer, Radda and Dominguez (2001) gave this species its own (scientific) name. In their article published in 2001 they called this species after its area of distribution: "Allotoca zacapuensis". It is a rather colourless fish that displays a weak grey-blue glow on the sides of the body under favourable light conditions. If the fish are in a good condition, dark transverse bands are also noticeable. The rest of the body is greyish-brown and the fins are colourless. The males have a dark mark on the ventral side above the anal fin. The typical sex organ for male Goodeids is the only further difference between the males and females. Corresponding to the original description Allotoca zacapuensis reaches a size of approximately 3 centimetres. Although it is not one of the larger species within the genus Allotoca, they nevertheless can become a few centimetres larger in my opinion. Due to the fact that Allotoca zacapuensis does not have a striking appearance it might not become a special aquarium fish. In the year 2000 I had the opportunity to catch Allotoca zacapuensis in Lake Zacapu. The species occurred only in small numbers and I could not catch any except at one place. The fish were between plants and could be distinguished clearly from Skiffia lermae , which occurred here in large number, by their relatively large eyes. Other Goodeids that I found there were Goodea atripinnis, Hubbsina turneri, Xenotoca variata and Zoogoneticus quitzeoensis. Allotoca zacapuensis
Photo by: Ruud Wildekamp | 
