StillLearningApistos
Member
- Messages
- 45
Hey, everyone. I've posted a few times here and there, mostly about a year or so ago. As the name implies, I'm still trying to understand/learn all I can about this genus, but, as many of you know, the whole common name/trade name/random naming of different "varieties", or "forms", or "colors", or whatever name anyone wants to call them is getting a bit cumbersome. Specifically in regard to the trade names/crosses/color forms thing. Trust me...I understand that taxonomy is tough, especially with such a rich and diverse genus and, essentially, very little field research outside of the aquarium trade going on due to location and funding. I'm a wildlife biologist by trade. I had the same issues with the whole renaming/rearranging/splitting of the genus Etheostoma (darters) in the eastern US several years ago. The difference there, though, is I could drive to all of those locations and collect each geographic set and look at them myself, or just go to one of a handful of universities and look at the collections there. It was much easier than going to South America. Hahaha.
With all that being said, I'm having a few issues with a couple species and their identification. I'm not here to argue lumping vs. splitting or anything like that. That's a whole other discussion and typically is very subjective. What I'm curious about is in regard to two "species" in particular. I'm looking to get a couple new species/forms/something, and I've been in contact with a breeder. He sent me his list, and what the fish were sold to him as, along with a couple pictures, but the more I read on here and the internet as a whole, the more I'm starting to wonder if it's accurate? Here is what I'm looking for guidance/an opinion on. Some of you in here have made this your life/love, and I trust what you can tell me. And before anyone says anything...yes, I'm aware it's hard to get ID's from pictures alone, especially some of these, but it's what I have, so whatever you can tell me would be helpful. The beauty of the fishes isn't in question...just what species name you would give them.
Here is one that I'm told is "Apistogramma sp. Purple". The seller told me that it is "A. orgegai Pebas", but when I search "A. sp. Purple" here and on the internet, it seems that most call them something different, but I can't quite find one that looks like this. Most of what the internet calls "A. sp. Purple" is more slender bodied with a different overall shape. Thoughts/help with this whole "Apistogramma sp. Purple" thing?
The second question I have is about this guy. I am told, as was the seller, that it is "Apistogramma viejita", but after reading here and elsewhere, and comparing other pics, I'm almost positive myself that it is actually "A. macmasteri". Thoughts?
Sorry if I come across in any way. I don't mean to if so. I'm just genuinely curious about this stuff. I realize that this genus is huge, rich, and diverse, and that many species are isolated as hell. I'm just trying to understand. I appreciate the help.
Thanks!
Tony
With all that being said, I'm having a few issues with a couple species and their identification. I'm not here to argue lumping vs. splitting or anything like that. That's a whole other discussion and typically is very subjective. What I'm curious about is in regard to two "species" in particular. I'm looking to get a couple new species/forms/something, and I've been in contact with a breeder. He sent me his list, and what the fish were sold to him as, along with a couple pictures, but the more I read on here and the internet as a whole, the more I'm starting to wonder if it's accurate? Here is what I'm looking for guidance/an opinion on. Some of you in here have made this your life/love, and I trust what you can tell me. And before anyone says anything...yes, I'm aware it's hard to get ID's from pictures alone, especially some of these, but it's what I have, so whatever you can tell me would be helpful. The beauty of the fishes isn't in question...just what species name you would give them.
Here is one that I'm told is "Apistogramma sp. Purple". The seller told me that it is "A. orgegai Pebas", but when I search "A. sp. Purple" here and on the internet, it seems that most call them something different, but I can't quite find one that looks like this. Most of what the internet calls "A. sp. Purple" is more slender bodied with a different overall shape. Thoughts/help with this whole "Apistogramma sp. Purple" thing?
The second question I have is about this guy. I am told, as was the seller, that it is "Apistogramma viejita", but after reading here and elsewhere, and comparing other pics, I'm almost positive myself that it is actually "A. macmasteri". Thoughts?
Sorry if I come across in any way. I don't mean to if so. I'm just genuinely curious about this stuff. I realize that this genus is huge, rich, and diverse, and that many species are isolated as hell. I'm just trying to understand. I appreciate the help.
Thanks!
Tony