This peacock bass is native to the Rio Negro and Orinoco River basins in northern South America.

[4] Despite the name, it is not the only peacock bass in the Orinoco, as the river also is home to C. intermedia, C. nigromaculata, and C.

[4] Where it overlaps with the last species, C. orinocensis prefers more slow-moving and shallow waters.

[3] Adults are easily recognized by the three large gold-edged dark spots on the side of their body (a fourth spot on the tail) and lack of dark markings on the operculum.

[4][5] A genetic study has indicated a clear divergence between the Orinoco and Rio Negro populations.