The species Apistogramma taeniata has the particularity of having been the first species described in the genus Apistogramma, by Albert Günther on November 8, 1862. At the time, the genus Apistogramma did not yet exist, and today this species serves as a holotype for the genus.

The dwarf cichlid Apistogramma taeniata, was included in the Apistogramma regani group, is endemic and native to Brazil, from the Tapajós river, in the Amazon river basin.