Bussingius, n. subgen.

Type species. Cichlosoma septemfasciatum Regan, 1908 ^ZBK.

Diagnosis. Synapomorphies (Schmitter-Soto, in press): genital papilla oval, in females opening V-shaped at its anterior (rostral) end; upper symphysial teeth oval in section, labiolingually compressed (incisor-like), widest medially (not so in Cr. septemfasciatus); an abdominal black blotch in mature females (not so in Cr. sajica). Further distinguished from other two subgenera of Cryptoheros ^ZBK by dorsal-fin interradial scales distally in one row (vs. two) and 2-7 scales long (vs. 11 or more).

Description. D. XVII -XVIII,9-11; A. VIII -IX (usually VII in Cr. sajica),7-9. Gill rakers on lower limb of first arch 6-8. Scale rows on cheek 4-5; predorsal scales 10-16; pored lateral-line scales (not counting scales overlapping between the two segments of the lateral line) 26-30; scales between lateral line and origin of dorsal fin 3-4.5 (occasionally up to 5.5); scales between lateral line and first dorsal fin ray 1.5-2.5; circumpeduncular scales 16-18. A group of relatively small species of Cryptoheros ^ZBK, not exceeding 100 mm SL. Lower jaw not protruding. Pectoral and pelvic fins always reaching caudad beyond 2nd anal-fin spine. No vertical bar on head; no interorbital bands, snout usually somewhat dark; a suborbital streak usually present. Eyes greenish-blue, body usually yellowish, orange or definitely yellow. Bars on sides of body, often diffuse, usually medially and dorsally more intense; first bar V-shaped or like an inverted triangle, its apex behind the base of pectoral fin; mature females with a black ocellated blotch on dorsal fin (except Cr. sajica); lateral spot oval or circular (not discernible from bar in Cr. sajica); caudal blotch often diffuse, ventrally triangular, mainly on peduncle (except in Cr. sajica).

Distribution. Atlantic Panama and Atlantic and Pacific Costa Rica (Fig. 5).

Species composition. Five species: Cr. septemfasciatus, Cr. altoflavus ^ZBK, Cr. myrnae, Cr. nanoluteus, and Cr. sajica .

Etymology. Gender masculine. Named in honor of William Bussing, arguably the most influential recent ichthyologist in Costa Rica.