Curious if anyone thinks
- Thread starter duanes
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Hard to say from just a few pics, but...does it seem that the eye is further back and higher on the head in the new fish? Different head shape? Thicker caudal peduncle, with less body taper towards the rear? Seems like separate species.
Are all these specimens roughly the same size?
Are all these specimens roughly the same size?
The second one looks like Chaetostoma fisheri which occurs in Rio Bayano.
In the 1st pics the pleco is slightly larger.
Here are a couple underside shots.
Above same as the Rio Chagres individual.
Below from the Rio Chepo
Quite different from this angle.
Here are a couple underside shots.
Above same as the Rio Chagres individual.
Below from the Rio Chepo
Quite different from this angle.
I think different species, possibly even different genera. However, I don't pretend to know.
The fish in the second picture (which shows well its side), shows a central (dorsal) line of scales bearing protrusions (like spines) along the the fish's length. Then, there is at least one more row of similar spines on the side of the fish, about mid height along the body; potentially (not sure about this one) one more row below.
The fish in the third and fourth pictures (same animal) is much smoother, with no visible rows of scales bearing protrusions as the previous fish.
I would say they are different species at least.
The fish in the second picture (which shows well its side), shows a central (dorsal) line of scales bearing protrusions (like spines) along the the fish's length. Then, there is at least one more row of similar spines on the side of the fish, about mid height along the body; potentially (not sure about this one) one more row below.
The fish in the third and fourth pictures (same animal) is much smoother, with no visible rows of scales bearing protrusions as the previous fish.
I would say they are different species at least.
Great info.
I didn't notice those spines until you pointed the difference out, nice observations.
And the genus Chaetestoma is not in my field guide (so I had not considered it), but.....after a little research
I did find Chaetostoma fischeri, is found its far north as Panama and in the Bayano river drainage, where I was collecting.
I didn't notice those spines until you pointed the difference out, nice observations.
And the genus Chaetestoma is not in my field guide (so I had not considered it), but.....after a little research
I did find Chaetostoma fischeri, is found its far north as Panama and in the Bayano river drainage, where I was collecting.
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To me they seem very different, there are clear visual differences. With so many that in my opinion it's very unlikely they're even closely related species. Perhaps superficially if genetic research was conducted but I'd agree with FJB a different genus in likelihood.
