Geophagus ID??

[HrHagel]

This is taken from another site:

for example, early on in the article, the distictive caudals are displayed. G. aff Altifrons 'xingu' is shown a s having small spots, in contrast to G. sp. Xingu having a striped tail. Then lower down, a fish with a striped tail is labelled as g. aff. Altifrons 'xingu'

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In Xingu you have 4 Geophagus , Geophagus altifrons (tail with small spot), Geophagus sp Xingu (just like Tapajos red with banded tail), Geophagus cf altifrons Xingu (=Geophagus sp Altamira with large spot) and Geophagus aff. altifrons (with band). For me, no mistake.


Geophagus sp Aeroes or sp. Rio Das Mortes as you want isn't an altifrons we all agree with that. But it's clear that this species look like a species from Geophagus altifrons group and not to a taeniopareus or argyrostictus group, that's why this species is call Geophagus sp. aff or cf. altifrons.

In Weidner book : max size 18 cm for males, typical ovophilous moothbrooder, one of the mire timid members of Geophagus and in characters of the species :

"This species seems to be particularly close to G. altifrons, but when motivated it exhibits six diagonal double bands on the flanks. The most striking distinguishing character is the clearly visible lateral spot, which is 2-3 rows of scales wide and lies on the middle of the body beneath the upper lateral line and the third double band"
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[peathenster]

This is taken from another site:

for example, early on in the article, the distictive caudals are displayed. G. aff Altifrons 'xingu' is shown a s having small spots, in contrast to G. sp. Xingu having a striped tail. Then lower down, a fish with a striped tail is labelled as g. aff. Altifrons 'xingu'

​

In Xingu you have 4 Geophagus , Geophagus altifrons (tail with small spot), Geophagus sp Xingu (just like Tapajos red with banded tail), Geophagus cf altifrons Xingu (=Geophagus sp Altamira with large spot) and Geophagus aff. altifrons (with band). For me, no mistake.


Geophagus sp Aeroes or sp. Rio Das Mortes as you want isn't an altifrons we all agree with that. But it's clear that this species look like a species from Geophagus altifrons group and not to a taeniopareus or argyrostictus group, that's why this species is call Geophagus sp. aff or cf. altifrons.

In Weidner book : max size 18 cm for males, typical ovophilous moothbrooder, one of the mire timid members of Geophagus and in characters of the species :

"This species seems to be particularly close to G. altifrons, but when motivated it exhibits six diagonal double bands on the flanks. The most striking distinguishing character is the clearly visible lateral spot, which is 2-3 rows of scales wide and lies on the middle of the body beneath the upper lateral line and the third double band"
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The OP stated that these fish came from Guyana.

 

[HrHagel]

The OP stated that these fish came from Guyana.

I realise that. But the fact that they look more like something out of Guyana, implies a mixup or something along those lines.

Whatever though, i was only trying to help by throwing my 2 cents out there..

 

[peathenster]

But the fact that they look more like something out of Guyana.

That's what he said......

 

[HrHagel]

That's what he said......

Let me refrase then, something outside guyana

 

[Nemesis]

It wouldn't be impossible for the fish to be from a different country than listed, it's happened before. But usually fish from a country that is not too big in exporting, end up being exported out of countries with a larger fish industry. For example, fish from Venezuela will sometimes be exported out of Brazil.

 

[peathenster]

Let me refrase then, something outside guyana

We are all just trying to help here. No need to get aggravated

IMO the split vertical bars pattern is very distinct and should not be ignored. It is also shared by all the fish in the pictures. I'm not sure if any of the species you mentioned is known to have this lateral bar pattern.

LÓPEZ-FERNÁNDEZ and TAPHORN mentioned in their 2004 Zootaxa paper that two traits distinguish G. abalios from all other described species of Geophagus: the lack of head markings, and the split lateral bars ("dorso-ventrally bisected"). Like I mentioned, the only undescribed species with split bars that I know of is G. orange head Tapajos, which is clearly not the case here.

 

[Nemesis]

If it can be confirmed that it is possible for Abalios to have double spotting, than I think Abablios would be much more fitting.

 

[edburress]

It's still with some confusion, but G. "aeroes" was described last year as G. neambi.

Lucinda, P.H.F., C.A.S. Lucena, & C.A. Newton. 2010. Two new species of cichlid fish genus Geophagus Heckel from the Rio Tocantins drainage (Perciformes: Cichlidae). Zootaxa 2429: 29–42.

I think as adults the barring will no longer look paired, but the first bar clearly bisects. There have been so many imports from Guyana to the US the last year, it's hard to imagine that it's not G. abalios.

Ed

 

[JK47]

I've only kept two species with those split bars - bars that are "dorso-ventrally bisected by a clearer area, giving the impression of two thinner bars" (LOPEZ-FERNANDEZ & TAPHORN, 2004) - G. orange head Tapajos and G. abalios. These are clearly not orange heads (some of which do have double lateral spots), but I'm not sure if they are G. abalios either

I agree 100%, that's why I mentioned being bisect is key. I have a species that defies all of the G. Abalios rules as well, yet has has bisect lateral barring and is no OH for sure.