While collecting the Chepo/Mamoni river the other day in eastern Panama, a number of yellowish cichlids were netted, all appearing at least superficiously, to be Darienheros.
After waiting overnight for the cichlids to get comfortable, I started taking pics, and while viewing them, (deciding what to keep and what to delete), I came across this one, where the mouth structure on the left, its difference alone, suggest they are not the same species..
It's totally obvious on the photo they are not the same species, Darienheros is on the right, but one on the left, but is too dark to present a reasonable ID..
So today, became a marathon photo session, trying to get a good enough shot to help determine what species it is. Of 200+ photos taken, only 5 or 6 were useable.
It is 3 to 4 " TL. so probably not mature enough to present true colors as yet.
To my way of thinking there re really only 2 choices,
Amphilophus lyonsi (similar sized individual below) or Isthmoheros tuyrensis.
The A . Lyonsi distribution is from Costa Rica to western Panama.
Where this one was caught, in the Chepo/Mamoni river, is in eastern Panama , part of the drainage of the Lago Bayano, the Tuira river system, so by geography along, I'm leaning toward, Isthmoheros. Most species from western Panama, are not found in eastern Panama, because the rivers don't connect. The only cichlid common to both areas, is Andinoacara coerleopunctatus, whose ancestors may have migrated 10 or more million years before, the Panamanian geography became what it is when the Isthmoheros migration.
Back in 1966 it was suggested Miller that it fell into the sub-genus Amphilophus, then in 1998 tStawikowski suggested tuyrensis should be placed in the genus Vieja, but then in 2016, after DNA and other testing was done, Rican decided it was different enough to warrant its own genus Isthmoheros.
My tank water is heavily stained with tannins, which may account for the brownish tint.
If anyone has any insight from experience, with the species, I'm very interested in it.
I must admit after this experience, I can see how easily contaminant species show up in large shipments.
After waiting overnight for the cichlids to get comfortable, I started taking pics, and while viewing them, (deciding what to keep and what to delete), I came across this one, where the mouth structure on the left, its difference alone, suggest they are not the same species..
It's totally obvious on the photo they are not the same species, Darienheros is on the right, but one on the left, but is too dark to present a reasonable ID..
So today, became a marathon photo session, trying to get a good enough shot to help determine what species it is. Of 200+ photos taken, only 5 or 6 were useable.
It is 3 to 4 " TL. so probably not mature enough to present true colors as yet.
To my way of thinking there re really only 2 choices,
Amphilophus lyonsi (similar sized individual below) or Isthmoheros tuyrensis.
The A . Lyonsi distribution is from Costa Rica to western Panama.
Where this one was caught, in the Chepo/Mamoni river, is in eastern Panama , part of the drainage of the Lago Bayano, the Tuira river system, so by geography along, I'm leaning toward, Isthmoheros. Most species from western Panama, are not found in eastern Panama, because the rivers don't connect. The only cichlid common to both areas, is Andinoacara coerleopunctatus, whose ancestors may have migrated 10 or more million years before, the Panamanian geography became what it is when the Isthmoheros migration.
Back in 1966 it was suggested Miller that it fell into the sub-genus Amphilophus, then in 1998 tStawikowski suggested tuyrensis should be placed in the genus Vieja, but then in 2016, after DNA and other testing was done, Rican decided it was different enough to warrant its own genus Isthmoheros.
My tank water is heavily stained with tannins, which may account for the brownish tint.
If anyone has any insight from experience, with the species, I'm very interested in it.
I must admit after this experience, I can see how easily contaminant species show up in large shipments.
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