Orange/Red Head Tapajos Difference?
- Thread starter BRYANT
- Start date
Let me start by saying they are both "Orange Heads". While they aren't scientifically classified, this "Red Head" talk has more than likely come about as a marketing quality assessment to try and pillage off the same fish as something better.
There's argument about the collection points, as the Araguaia occurances aren't documented. Geophagus sp. "Tapajos Orange Head" are obviously from the Rio Tapajos in Brazil, but there's argument over whether the Araguaia variant is really from the Rio Araguaia, a tributary of the Tocantins in Eastern Brazil, or actually from the Arapiuns, a blackwater affluent that forks off the Rio Tapajos.
These are the two most common variants you'll see around, although they're rumoured to be in the Rio Xingu (and if the Araguaia is the case, the Tocantins) as well. I have no scientific evidence on hand to support this claim however. These species are not properly classified as yet, but having experience with both I'd be surprised if they weren't eventually classified as different variants of the same species - similar to the various altifrons locale variants through South America, where the same species has evolved different traits to cater for their environment.
From my experience, the Araguaia variant is larger and stockier. Dominant males are much more inclined to have steep foreheads with what appears to be a minor nuchal hump. Perhaps the biggest difference in fully coloured adult males is the colouration of the head. Araguaia males are generally pure red with a painted on effect that doesn't spread in a gradient. True Tapajos variant males showing proper colouration can be quite red, but fade to an orange/copper through the cheeks and onto the operculum. From observation, Tapajos males also show a red line along the top of the back and caudal peduncle, starting from the rear base of the dorsal fin, running along the bridge of the tail and stopping where the top caudal hard ray begins.
Once you've seen/kept properly kept examples of both species they're easy to tell apart, but fish kept in improper water displaying 'poor' colouration are impossible to identify at a 100% rate.
Here's a comparison of nice males in ideal conditions. (1. Tapajos, 2. Araguaia, 3. Both alongside eachother - Araguaia male showing average colouration (possibly courting/breeding - credit to fella/chevguy for the first and third photographs)
.. and some further reading: http://eartheaters.qldaf.com/index.php?page=orangehead
There's argument about the collection points, as the Araguaia occurances aren't documented. Geophagus sp. "Tapajos Orange Head" are obviously from the Rio Tapajos in Brazil, but there's argument over whether the Araguaia variant is really from the Rio Araguaia, a tributary of the Tocantins in Eastern Brazil, or actually from the Arapiuns, a blackwater affluent that forks off the Rio Tapajos.
These are the two most common variants you'll see around, although they're rumoured to be in the Rio Xingu (and if the Araguaia is the case, the Tocantins) as well. I have no scientific evidence on hand to support this claim however. These species are not properly classified as yet, but having experience with both I'd be surprised if they weren't eventually classified as different variants of the same species - similar to the various altifrons locale variants through South America, where the same species has evolved different traits to cater for their environment.
From my experience, the Araguaia variant is larger and stockier. Dominant males are much more inclined to have steep foreheads with what appears to be a minor nuchal hump. Perhaps the biggest difference in fully coloured adult males is the colouration of the head. Araguaia males are generally pure red with a painted on effect that doesn't spread in a gradient. True Tapajos variant males showing proper colouration can be quite red, but fade to an orange/copper through the cheeks and onto the operculum. From observation, Tapajos males also show a red line along the top of the back and caudal peduncle, starting from the rear base of the dorsal fin, running along the bridge of the tail and stopping where the top caudal hard ray begins.
Once you've seen/kept properly kept examples of both species they're easy to tell apart, but fish kept in improper water displaying 'poor' colouration are impossible to identify at a 100% rate.
Here's a comparison of nice males in ideal conditions. (1. Tapajos, 2. Araguaia, 3. Both alongside eachother - Araguaia male showing average colouration (possibly courting/breeding - credit to fella/chevguy for the first and third photographs)
.. and some further reading: http://eartheaters.qldaf.com/index.php?page=orangehead
How many inches do the Araguaia get inch wise compared to the tapajos?japes;4213264; said:Let me start by saying they are both "Orange Heads". While they aren't scientifically classified, this "Red Head" talk has more than likely come about as a marketing quality assessment to try and pillage off the same fish as something better.
There's argument about the collection points, as the Araguaia occurances aren't documented. Geophagus sp. "Tapajos Orange Head" are obviously from the Rio Tapajos in Brazil, but there's argument over whether the Araguaia variant is really from the Rio Araguaia, a tributary of the Tocantins in Eastern Brazil, or actually from the Arapiuns, a blackwater affluent that forks off the Rio Tapajos.
These are the two most common variants you'll see around, although they're rumoured to be in the Rio Xingu (and if the Araguaia is the case, the Tocantins) as well. I have no scientific evidence on hand to support this claim however. These species are not properly classified as yet, but having experience with both I'd be surprised if they weren't eventually classified as different variants of the same species - similar to the various altifrons locale variants through South America, where the same species has evolved different traits to cater for their environment.
From my experience, the Araguaia variant is larger and stockier. Dominant males are much more inclined to have steep foreheads with what appears to be a minor nuchal hump. Perhaps the biggest difference in fully coloured adult males is the colouration of the head. Araguaia males are generally pure red with a painted on effect that doesn't spread in a gradient. True Tapajos variant males showing proper colouration can be quite red, but fade to an orange/copper through the cheeks and onto the operculum. From observation, Tapajos males also show a red line along the top of the back and caudal peduncle, starting from the rear base of the dorsal fin, running along the bridge of the tail and stopping where the top caudal hard ray begins.
Once you've seen/kept properly kept examples of both species they're easy to tell apart, but fish kept in improper water displaying 'poor' colouration are impossible to identify at a 100% rate.
Here's a comparison of nice males in ideal conditions. (1. Tapajos, 2. Araguaia, 3. Both alongside eachother - Araguaia male showing average colouration (possibly courting/breeding - credit to fella/chevguy for the first and third photographs)
.. and some further reading: http://eartheaters.qldaf.com/index.php?page=orangehead