Original description as Menidia lisa:
ZooBank:78803333-FDDD-4F19-97EE-3AA19115ACE1.
- Meek, Seth Eugene. 1904. "The fresh-water fishes of Mexico north of the isthmus of Tehuantepec". Field Columbian Museum Publication. 1-252 (ffm00159)
Conservation: Atherinella lisa is evaluated by the international union for the conservation of nature in the iucn red list of threatened species as (EN) endangered (2018).