Ap.sp.Chingarno vs. Pulchra

[blueblue]

Quite recently, there's an imported fish known as Ap. sp. Chingarno
(see the following photos in Links 1 and 2). It looks so close to Ap.
Pulchra that I am thinking of whether they're actually the same species.
So, what's the major difference between them (if any)?

Chingarno
1. Japan: http://www.rva.ne.jp/apisto/tingaruno.htm
2. Taiwan: http://my.so-net.net.tw/bigrice/ap_sp_chingarno_madeira.htm

 

[Mike Wise]

It seems that 2 populations of A. pulchra-like fish come from the Rio Chingarno. Rayon Vert Aqua pictures both on their web site: A. sp. Chingarno & A. sp. New Chingarno (http://www.rva.ne.jp/apisto/newchingarno.html). It is my opinion that A. sp. Chingarno is a population of A. pulchra. A. cf. pulchara New Chingarno, however, has a different caudal fin pattern & possibly is a different species. It is very similar to A. cf. pulchra Marimari.

 

[blueblue]

Thanks Mike for your reply. For the "New Chingarno" in the link,
it looks very similar to the "A. sp. Wilhemi", especially for the mouth
and cheek of the fish which is purple and black... Actually, what is the
current positioning of Pulchra, Wilhemi, and Chingarno (including the
new Chingarno)? Are there any reports about cross-breeding of these
species? My gut-feeling is: There is a very high chance of cross-breeding them...

 

[Mike Wise]

All of the species that you named are members of the pulchra complex along with A. cf. pulchra Rio Branco, A. cf. pulchra Uatumã, & A. sp. Blauspiegel/Blue-spangle. All are very closely related. They probably have speciated (if they actually have) only very recently. A. cf. pulchra New Chingarno, A. cf. pulchra Marimari, & A. sp. Abacaxis/Wilhelmi could be populations of the same species. Forms of A. pulchra from the Rio Madeira (including A. pulchra Chingarno), Rio Negro, & nearby Rio Uatumã could be populations of A. pulcra. A. sp. Blue-spangle, from the Rio Xingu, is more distantly related from the other 2 assemblages. Still, Koslowski has a photo in his book of a cross between Blue-spangle and A. pulchra from the Rio Aripuanã (lower Rio Madeira).