Re: A.sp.mamore

[Mike & Diane Wise <apistowise@bewellnet.com>]

Andrew,

Two things. #1. Our Fearless List Master prefers that we
only use basic ASCII script and no extras. It's not that he
hates inventiveness, etc. It's only that it takes up a lot
of extra KBs that may overload the system. This is just a
friendly reminder to all who use exotic fonts and colors.

#2. Your description doesn't sound like the standard A. sp.
Mamoré, like the ones that Mike Jacobs has pictured so
beautifully. At 2" (5 cm) SL (standard length) A. sp. Mamoré
males should have extended front dorsal fin lappets. A. sp.
Mamoré doesn't have a caudal spot either. Nor does it have a
red pectoral spot. It does have a metallic red spot on the
lower gill cover, however. The caudal fin pattern of fine,
pale, dots doesn't sound right for this species either. You
don't mention the lateral spot that is conspicuous on this
species, at least on juveniles and females.

I get a feeling that you have a regani-group species that
comes in under the name A. sp. Malome. I have never seen
this fish nor has anyone, to my knowledge, published a photo
of it. From descriptions in the past it might be a species
called A. sp. Blaukopf (Blue-head) in Germany, A. sp. New
Blue (in Japan), or A. sp. Steel Blue (in Römer's Atlas).

I would really like to see a photo of the fish being sold as
A. sp. Malome - even a bad one. Does anyone have any?

Mike Wise

Andrew Faust wrote:

>     i think my male might not be mature enough yet to
> manifest all the diagnostic characteristics. i took a
> closer look last night, and i'll try to give a more
> complete description here, using Mike Wise's ID worksheet
> as a guide. these are descriptions of the male; the
> females are too shy to get a nice long look.     length
> not including tail is ~2". body has a metallic blue-green
> sheen, much like the pictures in the site below. the
> 'belly' is generally a light color, whitish or
> yellowish.     i noticed there is a very faint lateral
> band, when seen in the right light (definitely not
> prominent or dark).    there are brown dorsal blotches,
> maybe 5 or 6 spaced regularly along the base of the dorsal
> fin. there are more small brown splotches on the top of
> his head and 'face'.    there is no discernable sub- or
> superorbital stripe.    the dorsal fin has an extension
> reaching almost to the caudal fin, but it has no big
> 'spikes' on the first few rays as seen in the picture on
> the link below. instead, the front bit of the fin is
> colored black. the fin itself, i noticed, does indeed have
> a faint reddish hue.    the pectoral fins have a reddish
> 'insertion point' right behind the gill plate.    ventral
> fins are very faintly bluish, with long extensions that
> have a light coloration (white or yellow).    there is a
> vertical caudal spot, not black, but it's discernable.
> the caudal fin - this is cool - when i really looked
> closely i could see little spots covering it. the spots
> were a color similar to the light bluish of the body. if
> i'm remembering correctly the field color of the fin is
> very faintly reddish. ok so maybe i've run this horse into
> the ground, but since i don't have many good books to
> diagnose with (yet), this is the next best thing. plus i
> figure you guys love this kind of thing. i know i enjoy
> reading detailed observations made by others.    i guess
> my main curiosity about this is, how much (if any) can i
> expect this guy to change as he matures?



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