Interesting. Thank you!
There are more amazing instances of very similar species/forms found far apart from each other or even in different river-systems. If you are interested in this, I recommend this excellent article: PALEOGEOGRAPHY OF SOUTH AMERICA AND ITS EFFECTS ON THE DISTRIBUTION & PHYLOGENY OF APISTOGRAMMA-SPECIES-GROUPS by Mike Wise.
So if I am reading that correctly, a Regani Complex species, from the Southern bank of the Amazon would be quite the outlier? Reticulosa Complex +/- southern bank, Regani Complex +/- northern bank ? Bucket biologists stocking fish for easier collection later?
Yes, but there are some from southern tributaries of the Amazon too. You can find more detailed information about the distribution of the regani-complex species (and in fact all other species-groups/complexes) here: Apistogramma Species List By Species-Groups/Complexes
Yes, unfortunately some fishermen/exporters resettle fish closer to their home/business to have easier access to them.
As I continue to try and research this, I am still somewhat confused. The abdominal stripes, and the pale zone between the lateral band, and caudal spot, land these fish in the regani complex in your opinion. That seems like a fair position, I understand that. I seem to be lost making the connections that would confer these fish with A. geisleri.
Don't worry, it's pretty normal that the more you study this genus the more confusion arises
The abdominal stripes are not a diagnostic feature of the regani-complex, such stripes occur in many species-groups/complexes. Regarding the abdominal stripes my main point was that they don’t fit to the resticulosa-complex. What makes me think these fish are a regani-complex species is the pale zone in front of the caudal spot and the latter’s vertical extension.
Which of the orbital stripes does this statement refer to, pre- post-, sub- or supraorbital stripe? Anyway, according to my experience none of them is always present in any Apisto. These markings are highly dependent on the mood of the fish! In fact terms like “always” or “never” are almost always wrong when used to describe the phenotypic features of Apistos.
My most trusted source of information about A. geisleri (Koslowski: “Die Buntbarsche Amerikas”, Vol. 2) doesn’t mention the rare presence of the lateral band at all nor do the photos I know of this species point towards this.
Caudal pattern can be very variable too in two respects: they often vary among different specimens of the same species (in some species from being present to being completely absent) as well as in different stages of life of the same specimen (usually there are less and/or less pronounced ones at younger age).
If you mean the abdominal stripes (referred to earlier), they are usually shown while being aggressive or displaying.
What makes the identification of Apistos so difficult, is on the one hand the variabilty of most of their phenotypic features within a given species and on the other hand the weighting of all the features against each other.
Amazing! We have the same fish! Very nice photos BTW
