What fish is this? -Reply

["Kathryn Olson" <Kathryn.Olson@vmmc.org>]

>>> chuck Amburn <apistonut@yahoo.com> 04/10/98 10:10am >>>

I have a UFO (unidentified fishy object)  This Apisto looks, body wise
like A.sp. red spotted in American Cichlids I or sp. "puerto narino" I
think? The male is a light creamy biege color! very beautiful but I
can not Identify it.I need help from all the fish heads please.

Chucko
_________________________________________________________

Chucko,

Hi, would need more info to help ID this fish. =20
What type of body does it have
- -lateral line...solid, broken zig-zag...does the lateral line run into the =
tail or stop.  Is there a lateral spot
Is there a caudal spot?  Pectoral spot?  Type of tail...rounded, lancelot, =
spade,  lyre/with extensions.
- -type of dorsal fin...even all along...2nd or 3rd fin ray extended/dorsal =
lappets.
Any dorsal blotches, transverse bars or abdominal stripes.  I know it is a =
lot to look at. =20
Oh yeah, and the color helps as well.  Including stressed and spawning =
colors.

It helps to see what group there are in.  I am guessing macmasteri from =
your allusion to similar species.  Erik has pictures of puerto narino on =
The Krib, and Doug Brown has some nice ones on his page as well.

To help me ID the different species I look at the major characteristics of =
the 10 species groups (sure to soon be more) and then look at the =
subdivisions of the groups I think it belongs into.
(The 10 groups I had which I am sure will change with the new literature =
out there are )
agassizii, regani, steindachneri, macmasteri, cacatuoides, borelli, =
pertensis, gibbiceps, diplotaenia, and balzfleck.

(I wiill spare everyone the description of the divisions of each group)

It is helpfull to ID fish.  Knowing the characteristics of each groups =
helps isolate which place to find a fish.  A few are the abdominal stripes =
gibbiceps, big lips cacatuoides (and high dorsal fin), pertensis high =
dorsal fin, etc.

A long post I know...hope it helps.

Kathy