names changed to protect . . .?

[uapkrn1]

Hello, all. Long time, no post.

I got a new calendar from TFH a while back and on the cover was a beauty that I thought was a Vieja Synspilum. The caption said Paratheraps Synspilum. Now it seems like I'm seeing other Vieja's being re-named (e.g.,Argentea, maybe).

Anybody know anything about a re-class of Vieja members? Reasoning?Can you direct me to a website? Who decides these things?

Any advice much appreciated. Thanks.

 

[Modest_Man]

Good question. Taxonomy is a funny thing.

With all the scientific advances made in genetics over the last couple decades species of all sorts are being either split or lumped depending on the new findings.

With a lot of the cichlid species ichthyologists are finding instances where a species was described more than once, and they then are required to call it by the earliest known synonym.

If you want I can email you a paper on cichlid phylogentics, it's outdated by a year or two but is pretty good.

The folks over at www.cichlidae.com's taxonomic forum can explain it all much better than I. http://www.cichlidae.com/forum/viewforum.php?f=17&sid=5507da735002a41e278712ff3932df79

 

[uapkrn1]

Thanks, Modest. I will give cichlidae a look. I hate to appear geeky on these things, but I rarely if ever see some of these species around Chicago. Considering the odds that they are correctly labeled if I do see some, I figure the more intelligence I have on the topic the better chance I have of knowing what I'm really looking at.

I went into an "Aquarium Adventure" recently, and I saw what may have been some sort of Vieja (or maybe a pearsi) in a tank labeled "misc cichlids". I thought "Uh oh.", and decided not to bite on what may have been a good buy - - $15 on a 5-6 incher.

 

[orbit]

Thanks, Modest. I will give cichlidae a look. I hate to appear geeky on these things, but I rarely if ever see some of these species around Chicago. Considering the odds that they are correctly labeled if I do see some, I figure the more intelligence I have on the topic the better chance I have of knowing what I'm really looking at.

I went into an "Aquarium Adventure" recently, and I saw what may have been some sort of Vieja (or maybe a pearsi) in a tank labeled "misc cichlids". I thought "Uh oh.", and decided not to bite on what may have been a good buy - - $15 on a 5-6 incher.

Heck... Im just now trying to figure out the correct Genus/specie names. The bad part is is that I have been in to fish for about 15+ years... Its just never been a big thing to me until lately. Next will be spelling! LOL

Don't feel geeky! Feel smart! Especially for knowing what you do.