Considerado un sinónimo menor de Amphilophus trimaculatus (Günther, 1867)
- Miller, Robert Rush. 1966. "Geographical distribution of Central American freshwater fishes". Copeia. 1966(4):773-802 (ffm01105) (resumen)
Descripción original como Cichlasoma gordonsmithi:
- Fowler, Henry W. 1936. "Fresh-water fishes obtained in Guatemala by Mr. Rodolphe Meyer de Schauensee in 1935". Proceedings of the Academy of Natural Sciences of Philadelphia. 87; 515-531 (ffm01064)