Rotkeil/Redhead info wanted?
- Thread starter David R
- Start date
from what i have known, they are from the amazon basin near Iquitos, Peru. their scientific name has not yet been determined, but Heros Sp. Rotkeil is what is most widly used. Heros is the genus, rotkeil is the species.
joey020283;2506819; said:
That doesn't make sense, if Rotkeil was the species then it would be Heros rotkeil not Heros Sp. Rotkeil. Is Rotkeil a location or the guy who discovered it or something else?
Rotkeil is german for either redhead or redshoulder, not sure which. A lot of species have names but aren't described yet. That's what the "sp" or "affin" is in a name. In other words, they know it's a new species but it hasn't been scientificly written up yet. Until it is, scientists either use "sp." for species or "affin" if it seems to be closely related to a described fish. Ie Crenicichla affin regani would mean it's really like regani, but we think it's something else.
darth pike;2507422; said:
Thanks, I work with plants so I have a good understanding of Latin nomenclature. "Sp." and "Aff." have two different meanings. As in this case Sp. is just an abbreviation for Species, so Heros Sp. Rotkeil just means that its an unnamed member of the Genus Heros, and Rotkeil has been given as a common name. It doesn't necessarily mean that it is a new species, it is yet to be classified and could be classified as a subspecies of H. severus, ie Heros severus rotkeil. And as you said "Aff." means 'has an affinity with', So if it was Heros Aff. severus would mean that it is a species of Heros, closely related to H. severus. Then there is "cf." which means 'compare it to', so if it was Heros cf. severus it would mean 'could be part of H. severus, or closely related to'.
But thanks for filling me in on the meaning of "rotkeil"
Covered very well.
Rot = red, Keil = Neck
And Sp. is usually an undescribed member of an existing genus.
So Hero efasciatus is a described member of the Heros Family, where as Hero Sp. Notatus or Rotkeil, although differant, is yet undescribed, and may infact turn out to be a regional variant, and will most likely keep its Sp. Status.
How i understand it at any rate.
Craggy
Rot = red, Keil = Neck
And Sp. is usually an undescribed member of an existing genus.
So Hero efasciatus is a described member of the Heros Family, where as Hero Sp. Notatus or Rotkeil, although differant, is yet undescribed, and may infact turn out to be a regional variant, and will most likely keep its Sp. Status.
How i understand it at any rate.
Craggy