The genus Maratecoara was described by Costa in 1995 and the, at that time known fish Cynolebias lacortei described by Lazara (1991) was placed in this new genus. Remarkably Costa described the genus two times (1995a and 1995b) thereby causing an nomenclatural problem. First it was not clear which of both descriptions was to be recognized as the earliest and by that the right one that described the genus Maratecoara. The first paper was published on the 10the of April 1995, the second publication was a book that was dated with a year (1995)only. So there was no exact date assigned to the book and if only the year is given the rules of the International Nomenclature Commission say in such a case that the last day of the given year must be used as the day of release. So, the paper 1995a is by that the description of Maratecoara

Together with this paper Costa & Brasil described a second species named M. formosa that however widely is seen as colorvarity of Maratecoara lacortei. Maratecoara is an annual type of fish that does not dive into the bottom layer but press there eggs against the muddy bottom. For more info about the way of reproduction go to the page of the species themself.