Original description as Heros spilurus:
- Günther, Albert C. L. G. 1862. "Catalogue of the fishes in the British Museum. Catalogue of the Acanthopterygii, Pharyngognathi and Anacanthini in the collection of the British Museum". Catalogue of the fishes in the British Museum. 4; i-xxi + 1-534 (ffm00035)
Conservation: Cryptoheros spilurus is not evaluated by the international union for the conservation of nature in the iucn red list of threatened species. Not listed in the Mexican Official Norm NOM-059-ECOL-2001.