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Hypoplectrus atlahua only occurs in the south-western part of Veracurz, Mexico, western Atlantic, sightings have been made from Bajo de Tuxpan and around the island of Isla Lobos.
The English name Jarocho is a colloquial term for all inhabitants of the state of Veracruz, in this case this name was also “extended” to the Hamlet perch.
The body of adult animals is uniformly dark brown, the head is also dark brown.
The eye is also dark brown and a purple ring can be seen around the lower half of the eye.
A purple mottling can be seen on the cheek and on the sides of the muzzle.
There is a purple dotted line under the eye and 4 such lines on the lower corner of the operculum, extending to the chest.
At the upper corner of the operculum there is a striking purple spot.
The dorsal fin is dark brown; the caudal fin is dark brown with a light center, the anal fin is dark brown; the pelvic fins are also dark brown with a purple front edge; only the pectoral fins are clear.
Juvenile hamlet perch are variously colored:
Juveniles sometimes have a pale body with five dark bars on the upper body, the front two are brown, the rear three are blackish, the third bar is divided into two spots.
The last bar at the end of the caudal peduncle shows two black spots adhering to its posterior edge, each of these spots with a pale white spot above it.
Alternatively, juveniles sometimes have a grayish-brown body with a darker area along the side of the head and mid flank and a row of black spots on the back of the body, a vertical pair under the anterior soft dorsum, a single spot under a single spot under the posterior soft dorsal fin, a large spot in front of a pair of small round spots at the end of the dorsum.
Atavistic color forms of Hypoplectrus atlahua may resemble Hypoplectrus floridae.
Etymology: In Aztec mythology, Atlahua, Ahtlahua, Atlahoa, Atlavâ or Atlaua [aˈtɬawa] was a water god, fisherman and archer.
The English name Jarocho is a colloquial term for all inhabitants of the state of Veracruz, in this case this name was also “extended” to the Hamlet perch.
The body of adult animals is uniformly dark brown, the head is also dark brown.
The eye is also dark brown and a purple ring can be seen around the lower half of the eye.
A purple mottling can be seen on the cheek and on the sides of the muzzle.
There is a purple dotted line under the eye and 4 such lines on the lower corner of the operculum, extending to the chest.
At the upper corner of the operculum there is a striking purple spot.
The dorsal fin is dark brown; the caudal fin is dark brown with a light center, the anal fin is dark brown; the pelvic fins are also dark brown with a purple front edge; only the pectoral fins are clear.
Juvenile hamlet perch are variously colored:
Juveniles sometimes have a pale body with five dark bars on the upper body, the front two are brown, the rear three are blackish, the third bar is divided into two spots.
The last bar at the end of the caudal peduncle shows two black spots adhering to its posterior edge, each of these spots with a pale white spot above it.
Alternatively, juveniles sometimes have a grayish-brown body with a darker area along the side of the head and mid flank and a row of black spots on the back of the body, a vertical pair under the anterior soft dorsum, a single spot under a single spot under the posterior soft dorsal fin, a large spot in front of a pair of small round spots at the end of the dorsum.
Atavistic color forms of Hypoplectrus atlahua may resemble Hypoplectrus floridae.
Etymology: In Aztec mythology, Atlahua, Ahtlahua, Atlahoa, Atlavâ or Atlaua [aˈtɬawa] was a water god, fisherman and archer.
