Original description as Pimelodus guatemalensis:
- Günther, Albert C. L. G. 1864. "Catalogue of the Physostomi, containing the families Siluridae, Characinidae, Haplochitonidae, Sternoptychidae, Scopelidae, Stomiatidae in the collection of the British Museum". Catalogue of the fishes in the British Museum. 5:1-455 (ffm00226)
Conservation: Rhamdia guatemalensis is not evaluated by the international union for the conservation of nature in the iucn red list of threatened species.