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Re: Apistogramma sp. Chao

Considering the information is over 6 years old, Römer's Atlas still is an excellent references for the most part. Things change. New data are always being discovered. I don't know of any science oriented books in which everything is "correct". That is the main advantage of journals and especially internet sites like this list. New information can be reported very quickly, even if we can't trust everything we see on the Web.

Ingo Koslowski's new book, well the data is actually almost 2 years old now, is the second volume in the "Die Buntbarsche Amerikas" (Cichlids of the Americas) series. The much larger volume 1 of the series deals with all of the Neotropical (Central & South American) cichlid tribes except the Geophagines, Crenicarines, & Crenichiclines. I assume that these will appear in later volumes. Koslowski's volume deals with the 'dwarf geophagines' (Apistogramma, Apistogrammoides, Taeniacara, & Mikrogeophagus). This series is basically an expanded & updated version of the very popular (at least in Germany & with cichlid specialists worldwide) "Die Buntbarsche der Neuen Welt" (The cichlids of the New World) series. These books, & their updated successors, are as much science oriented as aquarium oriented. They deal more with identification, distribution, and biotopes of the cichlids than about how to keep & breed them, although this information is included when known.

I really like the lay-out of Koslowski's book. It breaks the massive Apistogramma genus into 22 major groupings & 16 subgroupings. Using the "divide & conquer" method of identifying species makes more sense to the average hobbyist than the "key" method used by taxonomists. Actually, they are the same, but Koslowski makes it much easier to understand. The book is broken down into chapters dealing with related species. This is much better for ID purposes than having all of the species in alphabetical order; that's what an index is for. Once you determine which group/complex your fish belongs to, all of the species are shown together as a group. Each species/form (about 200) is pictured and given a description of its diagnostic features. This is much easier than flipping through an entire book looking for similar species.

Koslowski's book has some disadvantages, too. First of all, many of the photos are rather dark. This is the fault of the publisher not the photographers. I have seen many of the actual photos & for the most part they are of high quality. Römer's Atlas has spoiled us. Don't expect to see as many photos of the same fish. Finally the book is only published in German. We tried to get the publisher to produce an English edition, but they really weren't interested. For those who read some German, this isn't a problem. For those who want to try using translation software, you may become a bit frustrated. Koslowski's writing style can get a bit 'over the top' (think Dr. Paul Loiselle). It wreaks havoc with simple translation software. I've translated parts of the book. I start muttering incomprehensible noises when I hit the 100 word sentences with 6 to 8 phrases. My family just laughs at me and says, "he's translating 'Ingo-ish' again".

For me the value far outweighs the problems in this book. It is well worth buying. I feel that Koslowski's book makes up for the weaknesses in Römer's Atlas, and vice versa. I keep the two volumes side by side. Now if I could only get the 2 authors the same way.

Mike Wise



Per Wigstal wrote:

Hello Mike

Thanks for the info! I´m refering to the book by Romer (like always) but of course not all the info in this book is correct. I have to buy this book by Koslowski! Havent heard about this book before.

Best regards/ Per

Mike & Diane Wise <apistowise@bewellnet.com> wrote:
Per,

You have old information, probably my article that is about 5 years old now. We know a little more now. A. sp. Chao is not closely related to the Balzfleck Apisto (a neat little fish, by the way). Although its lateral band does break into a series of spots, especially while brooding, A sp. Chao has no true lateral spot (a spot on Bar 3 that is noticeably wider than the lateral band, or any other spots formed from the lateral band). The lack of a lateral spot is a characteristic found only in the regani-lineage (regani-, macmasteri-, Rotpunkt-groups, as well as A. borellii & Apistogrammoides). The Balzfleck Apisto has an especially large lateral spot & features that indicate that it probably is allied of the pertensis-group in some way. Koslowski (2002) assigns A. sp. Chao to the Xingu-complex in the regani-group. For those who can read some German, Koslowski's new book, "Die Buntbarsche Amerikas, Band 2 - Apistogramma & Co." is well worth reading. It is the only source that organizes almost all of the apistos into coherent groupings. It really helps with identifying apistos. The more species you can eliminate, the better your chances are of correctly identifying your fish.

Mike Wise

Per Wigstal wrote:



Hello

This species seem to be a member of the "Balzfleck"-group. 30-40mm in lenght and have the very unusual caracteristics that the male is smaller than the female. 

Lucky you, if you will be able to get some of them. :-)

Best regards/ Per

aquapassion@sympatico.ca wrote:
Hi Per,

Thanks for the info, I'll try to get my hands on a copy of the Cichlid atlas!!

I don't have any of those yet, nor are they in a lfs, but they might have some within a month. I'll try and go reserve them for myself :)

Thanks,
David




From: Per Wigstal 







Date: 2003/10/07 Tue AM 09:34:32 EST
To: apisto@v2.listbox.com
Subject: Re: Apistogramma sp. Chao

Hello David.

I have read about this species in the Cichlid atlas by Romer. It´s a very small species. There´s some photos also in this book.

Have you seen this fish in a shop, or do you have it?

Best regards/ Per



David Trescak wrote:
Anyone have any pictures or information on this species, Apistogramma sp. Chao. I've also seen Apistogramma sp. Rio Xingu

Thanks,
David

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