What am I describing?

[tjudy]

The following description is either a eunotus or a rotpunkt. I got both but the bags were not labeled. The fish are not in the greatest shape, and are not very well colored.

#1 - (male) Basically a drab grey fish so far, with vertical barring that is feint and a caudal peduncle spot that is almost a full crescent. Eye stripe is only below the eye. Front edge of pelvic fin black. Edge of anal fin black with red/orange adjacent then blueish. Lateral stripe, when present is not quite solid.. it fades between the bars. There is a distinct gap between the posterior end of the lateral strip and the caudal spot.

#2 - Much more chromatic than #1. Eye stripe extends through eye above and below. Lateral stripe a solid, but micro zigzag. Domonant male has lateral strip that fades to spots when aggressive. Caudal spot a dot no wider than the lateral stripe.

My guess... #1 = eunotus, #2 = rotpunkt

 

[KenL]

Pictures please :wink:

 

[tjudy]

Sorry guys... no pictures.

 

[Mike Wise]

Ted,

Your guess is right on. A. sp. Rotpunkt has a zigzag, zipper-like, lateral band and a small irregular-shaped caudal spot. A. cf. eunotus has the crescent-shaped caudal spot, more pronounced vertical bars (that in the posterior part below the lateral band are split in two) & a much less prominent superorbital (forehead) stripe.

 

[tjudy]

Thanks Mike...

 

[KenL]

Who needs pictures when Mike is around

 

[Mike Wise]

You don't need me. You just need a good book that emphasizes species identification.