Apistogramma cf. cacatuoides (Rio Acre)

[Tom C]

As some of you might have noticed in the "Apisto news" section at my site, I brought back a few fishes from the Rio Acre, Peru in October 2014. I didn't collect them myself, but bought them from a fisherman who had collected them in the Peruvian part (at least he said so...) of the Rio Acre.

At my site I showed a fish with a greenish tint:

After a few month in captivity, these fishes have changed appearance "a little bit":

The female has fry, and shows no black abdominal stripes:

and the male doesn't know he is a form of A. cacatuoides, so instead of a few red spots in the caudal fin, he's got plenty of red in the posterior part of dorsal fin!
I love surprises like this:

 

[mixmixi]

Your fish looks awesome Tom. I'm jealous.

 

[Tom C]

Well, they have fry, and I would happily give you some of them, when they have grown for a while...

 

[Mike Wise]

OK, Tom, I'll take some! The species is different from any other cacatuoides-group species that I've seen. What stands out as diagnostic/different is the exceptionally wide superorbital stripe that runs across the forehead, between the eyes.

 

[Amazoniensis]

wow congrats Tom
they are so beautiful i love them

 

[Frank Hättich]

Congrats Tom, stunning fish!

 

[fart]

That was a a beauty Tom C.
What water conditions do you keep then in?

 

[Tom C]

...What water conditions do you keep then in?

Nothing special, really: Slightly peat-filtered water to bring the pH down to around 6 and the conductivity down to around 50 microSiemens. Temperature 26 degrees C.
One pair in the tank, and a few Copellas as dither-/target-fish. Just a little water movement, floating plants (Ceratopteris sp.) all over, fine sand and lots of oak leaves as substrat, lots of wood, and the tank is 75cm long x 50cm wide x 35cm high.

 

[Tom C]

OK, Tom, I'll take some! The species is different from any other cacatuoides-group species that I've seen. What stands out as diagnostic/different is the exceptionally wide superorbital stripe that runs across the forehead, between the eyes.

Maybe different enough to be labelled A. sp. aff. cacatuoides (Rio Acre)?
You're allways welcome to collect in my tanks, Mike

 

[Mike Wise]

I am certain that it is a species different from A. cacatuoides. Since it hasn't any common name "A. sp. aff. cacatuoides (Rio Acre)" is as good as any other. Collecting in your tanks would be fun, but collecting from the wild would be more fun and cost only a little more.

 

[mixmixi]

Well, they have fry, and I would happily give you some of them, when they have grown for a while...

That would be an honour but would I be able to give you in return that you never had?

 

[Tom C]

...would I be able to give you in return that you never had?

Just a pair of Apistogramma salpinction would do...

 

[Tom C]

...Since it hasn't any common name "A. sp. aff. cacatuoides (Rio Acre)" is as good as any other...

As the name A. sp. "Rio Acre" was the former name of Apistogramma acrensis, we should not use this.
Suggestions for provisional name other than "A. sp. aff. cacatuoides (Rio Acre)" would be appreciated! Anybody?

 

[Frank Hättich]

A. sp. "Superorbital" sounds cool

 

[ErtyJr]

A. sp. "Superorbital" sounds cool

I think this name is spectacular!

 

[mixmixi]

Just a pair of Apistogramma salpinction would do...

Well I am admitting I had to search for the name and look in books to find out what you are asking me. Although I'd love to have a pair of these, but I am afraid in no possible way I cannot return the favour with what you are asking, Tom.

 

[Mike Wise]

A. sp. "Superorbital" sounds cool

10, 9, 8, ... 3, 2, 1. We have lift-off! Sorry, I couldn't help myself.

 

[Frank Hättich]

in the unlikely case that a less cosmic name is preferred, maybe A. sp. "Browband"

 

[ErtyJr]

in the unlikely case that a less cosmic name is preferred, maybe A. sp. "Browband"

Now don't go trying to reinvent the wheel there Mr Ha. You had an excellent suggestion the first round. Maybe when it's described we can lobby for it to be Apistogramma tomsi

 

[Microman]

I thought about A. sp. aff. cacatuoides "Aquiry". The Rio Acre is called Rio Aquiry by those Peruvian locals who use the the Iñapari language, a critically endangered indigenous language spoken by very few people now in Perú.

Its a cracking looking Cac Tom... Your pictures always seem to highlight the spectacular blues in the finnage of some Apistos.