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We present a developmental Study focusing on the development of coloration patterns in a subgroup of Neotropical cichlids, the subfamily Cichlasomatinae. Based on the presented coloration ontogenetic series of 40 species we show that developmental information is a necessary prerequisite for any serious attempts in understanding adult coloration patterns. The center of our contribution is a detailed description of coloration ontogenies in a selected sample of cichlids and their discussion in a much wider taxonomical sampling. The pigmentation pattern ontogeny is specifically used to determine developmental homology of individual vertical bars. Early ontogeny is documented from the onset of the free-swimming period, which is also used as a point of reference for possible heterochromic shifts as presented here. A single universal process is responsible for the transformation of longitudinal melanophore …