Cr. sp. lenticulata "Venezuela"

[Scatocephalus]

I've come to the conclusion that these are not lenticulata and they are not strigata. I believe they are an unidentified species from Venezuela/Orinoco region.

Here's a comparison shot from June '07 to Jan '08. In the first pic the male is in front. The second shows the female in front.

 

[CrystalizedHairs]

First off, these are MY opinions with absolutely NO scientific research backing them. The strigata complex is so confusing. I've seen so many(online) strigata/lenticulata/marmorata that are so similar. Depending on if your a splitter or a clumper, they could easily be seen as all one species and many sub-species, or a dozen different species. I tend to believe that most belong to one species, likely lenticulata the intermediate species. I'm obviously not a scientist, but your pikes in the future could be named C. lenticulata orinocensis, with others getting locale based sub-species names. I do believe they deserve atleast sub-species status.

By the way, gorgeous!

 

[rasdbo]

dude!

wife needs to let me put this 110 in the house so I can get some of these nice pikes. really my bro will get 'em but I'd have 'em ...

 

[ShadowStryder]

Could these not still be Lents, just a geographical variant? As in the Marmorata Complex, the Tapajos variant looks nothing like the Trombeta variant. Just and idea.
No matter, they are still gorgeous. By the way isn't it unusual that they have the same split in the same locale behind the fifth spine on dorsal. Were they like that when you received them? If so wonder if it is a genetic trait from the same hatch.

 

[Scatocephalus]

Could these not still be Lents, just a geographical variant? As in the Marmorata Complex, the Tapajos variant looks nothing like the Trombeta variant. Just and idea.
No matter, they are still gorgeous. By the way isn't it unusual that they have the same split in the same locale behind the fifth spine on dorsal. Were they like that when you received them? If so wonder if it is a genetic trait from the same hatch.

It's possible that they are just a geographical variant but I don't think so. Prototypical lents seem to hail from the same area as my fish for one thing. Plus all pictures that I can find showing lents show very different markings. Even lents from known geographical areas far apart look similar. These look nothing like them. My fish seem to be thickening up whereas lents seem to remain long and slender.

Regarding the split in the fin. This has happened in my tanks. They did not have it when I got them and in fact it showed up in the two fish months apart. It is complete coincidence that the split is in the same spot on both fish. Irritates me a little bit and I've been thinking about trying to 'surgically' repair the tears.

Here's a progression series that I put together:

Just a series of photos showing the progression of these fish over the course of a year.

Feb '07 (male)

April '07 (male)

May '07 (female in front)

June '07 (male in front)

Jan '08 (female in front)

 

[Taz2478]

male sure does lose alot of markings.

 

[Scatocephalus]

male sure does lose alot of markings.

The female's are disapearing as well. I suspect that by the time all is said and done they will loose all of their spots. Perhaps they will retain a few, very small spots on their face. This is one of the reasons I am leaning away from lents. Regardless of the geographical variations, mature lents are heavily spotted with dark marking along the length of their bodies.

 

[milokai]

nice pikes!!

 

[MTN PIKE]

A local friend has some of these guys - bought as Lents! Diminishing Head spots are reddish - not dark black... with reddish eye color. Still am not convinced not Lents ~ maybe Cr. sp. lenticulata orinioco ???

 

[R1_Ridah]

Sure are beautiful..