The Mouthbrooding Severum (Heros liberifer) is the only species of Severum that mouthbroods -the females hold developing fry in their mouths rather than in a nest. They may be referred to as the Red Eye Severum or Red Sided Severum, in reference to the bright red scales of the lower halves of their bodies. The true Heros severus, as described by Wolfgang Staeck, was reportedly a mouthbrooder as well, but recent reevaluations of the study have given a consensus that there were one or more H. liberifer present in the study.
