There's also a third possibility, Aequidens sp. Jenaro Herrera ... another that looks almost identical to those two. Without the pelvic fins down to see the coloring though, can't say if it's one.
Aequidens Metae or Aequidens Diadema?
- Thread starter Chinnavar
- Start date
I see him more A. metae thae A. diadema or A. jenaro Herrera.
Its characteristic mark of the metae is the black line on the cheek.
Its characteristic mark of the metae is the black line on the cheek.
Ok, so I bought the little guy. He was too interesting to pass on, here are some better quality pictures! He's already bossing around my 2 rotkeil sevs and he eats like crazy. The black stroke that he had underneath his eye is also gone.
View attachment DSC_0115.JPGView attachment DSC_0122.JPG
View attachment DSC_0115.JPGView attachment DSC_0122.JPG
The thing about how we perceive fish, is "if" we were sold a species under a certain name, we often think that is what the species is.
But in reality, species are misidentified by exporters, dealers, and even scientists all the time .
There are many occasions where I have bought fish at a LFS or auction, and when I get home, and started really looking find out its something else all together.
This often occurs with generic looking juvies.
I will later compare original descriptions, do hard or soft ray counts and other identification clues, and realize whet I have thought (maybe for months) is not what i really received. Just because it looks like what we were sold, doesn't make it real
I once bought a bag of what were listed as istlanus at a national cichlid auction, and realized when I got home they were grammodes, and had been mislabeled by the bagger.
To me the differences in the 17 recognized species of Aequidens are often minimal, and can be easily miss IDed.
But in reality, species are misidentified by exporters, dealers, and even scientists all the time .
There are many occasions where I have bought fish at a LFS or auction, and when I get home, and started really looking find out its something else all together.
This often occurs with generic looking juvies.
I will later compare original descriptions, do hard or soft ray counts and other identification clues, and realize whet I have thought (maybe for months) is not what i really received. Just because it looks like what we were sold, doesn't make it real
I once bought a bag of what were listed as istlanus at a national cichlid auction, and realized when I got home they were grammodes, and had been mislabeled by the bagger.
To me the differences in the 17 recognized species of Aequidens are often minimal, and can be easily miss IDed.
Everything Duane said is true. I still say metae if what I'm seeing on the screen is true to life. They've been around a long time, though not as popular here as some other countries. Also known as yellow acara. Could it be a similar or undescribed species? Possible. I doubt it's Jenaro Herera.
They are metae. The long cheek stripe is the giveaway. Here's a little picture guide I made for Facebook a while ago.
There are also a few undescribed Aequidens that very closely resemble metae, so there's always the possibility it's one of those. But The yellow body markings and the long cheek stripe look like metae to me.
FYI, both diadema and Jenaro Herrera may have orange/yellow markings on either side of the black saddle marking, but they don't have the yellow-colored bands/blotches along the top of the body at the base of the dorsal. That is a uniquely metae feature. You'll notice in the picture below how the examples of metae all show yellow or orange bands across the forehead above and behind the eye.
Another difference you'll notice is that metae tend to have thinner blue striation on the face similar to something like a blue acara, while diadema/Jenaro Herrera have thicker lines that almost blend together to make the face solid green-blue.
There are also a few undescribed Aequidens that very closely resemble metae, so there's always the possibility it's one of those. But The yellow body markings and the long cheek stripe look like metae to me.
FYI, both diadema and Jenaro Herrera may have orange/yellow markings on either side of the black saddle marking, but they don't have the yellow-colored bands/blotches along the top of the body at the base of the dorsal. That is a uniquely metae feature. You'll notice in the picture below how the examples of metae all show yellow or orange bands across the forehead above and behind the eye.
Another difference you'll notice is that metae tend to have thinner blue striation on the face similar to something like a blue acara, while diadema/Jenaro Herrera have thicker lines that almost blend together to make the face solid green-blue.
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