genus apistogramma

[fishme.]

hello.
i would like to write an article for the greek aquarists club magazine on the genus apistogramma as they are not very popular in greece but i don't know some things-maybe all of the things- .

i would like to know what seperates the apistogramma genus from the others,i mean what makes a fish to be an apistogramma.

and what are the caracteristics that separate the groups

thank's Nick

 

[Mike Wise]

Interesting quesitions, but no easy answers for the average fish lover.

Most of the features that separate the species in the genus Apistogramma from other fish species are internal. See Dr. Kullander's description: http://www2.nrm.se/ve/pisces/acara/apistogr.shtml.

As for features that separate the species into species-groups, this varies among taxonomists. This is one slightly out-of-date article with descriptions of the features of different species-groups: http://www.apisto.com/phylo/phylobody.html. I really need to up-date this article. Still, if you use the descriptions of the groups (not the different complexes, which have changed due to new data), you will be fairly accurate with most taxonomists.

 

[fishme.]

thank you Mike.
i am a bit confused right now as i cannot find a greek translation for some anatomy words but it is ok