Hi all, i was sold this as a male syn but think it is a melanurus. can any one tell me if i`m right and if it is a male?
Mel or Syn? And sex?
- Thread starter KBMack
- Start date
According to some DNA testing, syn and mel, are the same species, just simply different color/location variants.
Yeah i noticed on one or two sites they have been re classified but the majority still label them as separate. I should probably have asked what regional variant it is instead.
It's too young to tell if it is a syn or melanurum. As they grow and color up, telling them apart is easier.
I have both syspillum and melanurum, and they look and behave differently. Melanurum is darker, more orange than red, more elongated and more aggressive. Scientists currently classify both as one and the same species based on DNA analysis. I disagree. DNA alone is not sufficient to speciate fish as other clues must also be considered. For example, in Lake Victoria, there are many Hap species that exhibit different color and pattern, yet carry identical DNA. Why do scientists have double standard to accept DNA for speciation in one fish and ignore others.
I have both syspillum and melanurum, and they look and behave differently. Melanurum is darker, more orange than red, more elongated and more aggressive. Scientists currently classify both as one and the same species based on DNA analysis. I disagree. DNA alone is not sufficient to speciate fish as other clues must also be considered. For example, in Lake Victoria, there are many Hap species that exhibit different color and pattern, yet carry identical DNA. Why do scientists have double standard to accept DNA for speciation in one fish and ignore others.
When sold as melanurus in my area in the past, they had much more black throughout the body (covering much more of the body, than in your photo), and were a much darker almost mustard yellow, and without the red face and head.
Whether or not a vendor, unless a very specialized one like J Rapps, would have location info, is highly doubtful,
Whether or not a vendor, unless a very specialized one like J Rapps, would have location info, is highly doubtful,
I`ll take there word for it as being a syn just now then. It was just put in the tank yesterday although the pick says 09/20 so it`s still pale looking just now so i`ll maybe post a pic once it settles in and colours up. Hope it turns out to be a mel tho. Cheers for that 
I bought mine from Rapps. As juvie, there is no difference between syns and mel. The markings and color are identical. As the fish grow, the difference became more obvious. Mel is moody, and can turn from light orange red to nearly black. I have not observed moody color change in syns.
mm that`s funny cause about an hour ago it got into a wee show of strength contest with my female bifa and the top half of it`s body went black.