Original description as Characodon variatus:
ZooBank:A36CE0A2-4AA1-4DD0-A7CB-0103CE339581.
- Bean, Tarleton Hoffman. 1887. "Descriptions of five new species of fishes sent by Prof. A. Dugès from the Province of Guanajuato, Mexico". Proceeding of the United States National Museum. 10(637):370-375 (ffm04505)
Conservation: Xenotoca variata is evaluated by the international union for the conservation of nature in the iucn red list of threatened species as (LC) least concern (2019).