Original description as Gambusia bonita:
- Meek, Seth Eugene. 1904. "The fresh-water fishes of Mexico north of the isthmus of Tehuantepec". Field Columbian Museum Publication. 1-252 (ffm00159)
Conservation: Priapella bonita is evaluated by the international union for the conservation of nature in the iucn red list of threatened species as (EX) extinct (1996). Reported extinct in 1906 (Burkhead, 2012).