Rarest central/south American cichlid?

[RealCrix220]

I’ve been told cichlasoma ornatum Are very rare and some say they are now extinct in the wild, not sure how true this is but they are a beautiful fish.

 

[ryansmith83]

There is still a huge debate around ornatus and what they actually are. Most of the “ornatus” in the hobby are actually gephyrus. I have never heard that ornatus are extinct in the wild. They are from a geographical area that’s supposedly restricted/dangerous due to drug activity and therefore no one goes in to collect them.

 

[duanes]

I had some wild(?) M ornatum/gepherum (sol to me as ornatum)about 7 or 8 years ago, and have heard they are now being spawned in aquarists tanks.

 

[RealCrix220]

I myself purchased 4 that were classed as wild they were the most aggressive fish I have ever seen and all killed each other until there was only 1 left. They didn’t bother any other just fought amongst them self