Geophagus ID
- Thread starter drutty9
- Start date
I don't think its a Read Head Tapajos. Look at the caudal fin markings, they are vertical instead of horizontal.
It looks to be one of the G altifrons clade.
The problem in IDing is that the differences between species, might be that the mid body blotch in one species might be a half centimeter smaller than another species, or there might be 3 bars in the caudal, as opposed to two, or the iridescent spots may be a centimeters closer to the gill plate.
And some may simply be location variants.
Back when the book South American Eartheaters was published, many that are now considered separate species, were simply altifrons variants
a few examples,
G, Trombetas, G manaus, G. Xingu, G Tapajos, G Aripuana, G Tocantins, G Maraba, G Altimira, G Aereoes Etc Etc.
IDing is like needle in a haystack, and especially if your LFS was sent a Geo as one species , but it was really mislabeled.
Below G species Red Head Tapajos juvie
Below a Geo sold to me a couple decades ago when all the complex was just considered G altifrons
The problem in IDing is that the differences between species, might be that the mid body blotch in one species might be a half centimeter smaller than another species, or there might be 3 bars in the caudal, as opposed to two, or the iridescent spots may be a centimeters closer to the gill plate.
And some may simply be location variants.
Back when the book South American Eartheaters was published, many that are now considered separate species, were simply altifrons variants
a few examples,
G, Trombetas, G manaus, G. Xingu, G Tapajos, G Aripuana, G Tocantins, G Maraba, G Altimira, G Aereoes Etc Etc.
IDing is like needle in a haystack, and especially if your LFS was sent a Geo as one species , but it was really mislabeled.
Below G species Red Head Tapajos juvie
Below a Geo sold to me a couple decades ago when all the complex was just considered G altifrons
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Not red head for reason mentioned above (even younger red heads are relatively distinctive and have horizontal stripe-like tail markings). I don't think altifrons, mid-lateral blotch is too big. I could throw out a few others it's probably not or throw out a possibility like brokopondo, but I don't think you'll get a definite ID until color, tail pattern, and head shape develops more. Too many geos look too similar at that size.
Here is some description data on G brokopongo that neutrino suggested.This is taken from the book South American Eartheaters by Thomas Weidner
"It has a large lateral spot, and no opercular spot ( OP, suggested by your photos).
The upper head profile runs in an almost straight line to the dorsal origen.
The dorsal profile starts to descend again from the ninth dorsal spine.
As in G surinamensis, the lateral spot lies on the 4th vertical bar.
A possible difference between the two species, lies in the coloration of the dorsal fin.
The (original scientific description) mentions a large number of whitish spots, arranged in 4 vertical rows, on the central part of the caudal, while G surinamensis only has light spots all over the caudal.
Kullander and Njssen distinguish this species from all other Surinanse Geophagus on the basis of of different gill arch morphology."
As you can see by the description, telling one from another is no small matter..
"It has a large lateral spot, and no opercular spot ( OP, suggested by your photos).
The upper head profile runs in an almost straight line to the dorsal origen.
The dorsal profile starts to descend again from the ninth dorsal spine.
As in G surinamensis, the lateral spot lies on the 4th vertical bar.
A possible difference between the two species, lies in the coloration of the dorsal fin.
The (original scientific description) mentions a large number of whitish spots, arranged in 4 vertical rows, on the central part of the caudal, while G surinamensis only has light spots all over the caudal.
Kullander and Njssen distinguish this species from all other Surinanse Geophagus on the basis of of different gill arch morphology."
As you can see by the description, telling one from another is no small matter..