Collecting Panama, finally Geophagus
- Thread starter duanes
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I agree, they are so similar, and geographic ranges are so close, the DNA sharing is probalby almost indistinguishable, yet the water paramaters they have evolved to live in are quite opposite.
kind of reminds me of how similar Andinoacara pulcher from Colombia (pH 7 (natural form), and A coeruleopunctatus (pH above 8) from Panama , are difficult to tell apart,
the only difference being the Panamanians cichlids evolved abilty to tolerate higher pH and mineral content than their soft water Colombians
But not only cichlids, the way Sturisomatichthys whiptail cats, S panamense (pH 8) in Panama, and Sturisomatichthys species from the soft waterrs of Colombia, pH 7 and lower.
and Chaetostoma fischeri of Panama (pH 8 and higher)and C palmeri of Colombia , pH 6.
or the Ctenolucius beanii of Panama compared (pH 8*) to Ctenolucius hujeta of Colombia pH 7 and much more acidic.
kind of reminds me of how similar Andinoacara pulcher from Colombia (pH 7 (natural form), and A coeruleopunctatus (pH above 8) from Panama , are difficult to tell apart,
the only difference being the Panamanians cichlids evolved abilty to tolerate higher pH and mineral content than their soft water Colombians
But not only cichlids, the way Sturisomatichthys whiptail cats, S panamense (pH 8) in Panama, and Sturisomatichthys species from the soft waterrs of Colombia, pH 7 and lower.
and Chaetostoma fischeri of Panama (pH 8 and higher)and C palmeri of Colombia , pH 6.
or the Ctenolucius beanii of Panama compared (pH 8*) to Ctenolucius hujeta of Colombia pH 7 and much more acidic.
Rio Canaveral is quite far (north and west) from where I live, and have collected so far.
The drive would be at least 9 hours of a good day, from Panama City.
So the logistics would be difficult, to manage, and expensive.
I would like to do it some day, but that is an entirely different fish region than the area I normally collect near the Darien.
The drive would be at least 9 hours of a good day, from Panama City.
So the logistics would be difficult, to manage, and expensive.
I would like to do it some day, but that is an entirely different fish region than the area I normally collect near the Darien.
It is interesting that in such a small country, there is a vast separation between cichlid species.
I have been collecting in Central, (but mostly) eastern Panama, and surprisingly are no Amatitlania present (That I have encountered)
Unless one countsba close cousin to Amatitlania, Panameus panamense is endemic, but I have never collected, or even seen it in nature.
Although it was easily founs in US aquarium circles.
I have caught Darienheros, and Istmoheros, from the Mamoni Rver east on the southern side of the Cordillera de San Blas mountains but not on the northern side (as yet).
Andinoacara coeruleopunctatus are found both west, east , north and south of the divide, and in the Rio Mamoni,
but Darienheros has never shown up west of it, suggesting Mamoni may be a significant barrier beyond and to their western distribution.
I have caught whiptail Catfish (Sturisomatichthys) on both side of th mountain range.
But I am not adept enough at catfish ID to know if they are separate species.
I have been collecting in Central, (but mostly) eastern Panama, and surprisingly are no Amatitlania present (That I have encountered)
Unless one countsba close cousin to Amatitlania, Panameus panamense is endemic, but I have never collected, or even seen it in nature.
Although it was easily founs in US aquarium circles.
I have caught Darienheros, and Istmoheros, from the Mamoni Rver east on the southern side of the Cordillera de San Blas mountains but not on the northern side (as yet).
Andinoacara coeruleopunctatus are found both west, east , north and south of the divide, and in the Rio Mamoni,
but Darienheros has never shown up west of it, suggesting Mamoni may be a significant barrier beyond and to their western distribution.
I have caught whiptail Catfish (Sturisomatichthys) on both side of th mountain range.
But I am not adept enough at catfish ID to know if they are separate species.
