I actually don't know. All the different types of severums - rotkeil and stuff, are they different species, or different strains of a single species? Or different strains of different species? Or what?
Severums
- Thread starter Azedenkae
- Start date
There are at least four valid, separate species:
Heros efasciatus
Heros notatus
Heros severus
Heros spurius
There is also Heros appendiculatus, the turquoise severum from Peru, but while Cichlid Room Companion still lists it as a separate species, Kullander collapsed it into H. efasciatus. It just depends on who you ask. IMO there are noticeable differences between H. efasciatus and H. appendiculatus but I'm no ichthyologist and those differences may not count enough to keep them separate.
There are also a few undescribed types that may or may not get their own species one day:
Heros sp. 'Rotkeil'
Heros sp. 'Atabapo'
Heros sp. 'Inirida'
Heros sp. 'Tapajos'
Most pet store and domestically-sold severums are assumed to be H. efasciatus, the green severum. The problem is that most severums (with the exception of the mouthbrooders) can and will inter-breed, so it's entirely possible that tank-bred lines that have existed for years on fish farms are actually mutts that have genes from multiple species. You also have gold and super red severums, and both of these were derived from the aquarium-bred H. efasciatus (so again, they could be mutts).
Hope this helps.
Heros efasciatus
Heros notatus
Heros severus
Heros spurius
There is also Heros appendiculatus, the turquoise severum from Peru, but while Cichlid Room Companion still lists it as a separate species, Kullander collapsed it into H. efasciatus. It just depends on who you ask. IMO there are noticeable differences between H. efasciatus and H. appendiculatus but I'm no ichthyologist and those differences may not count enough to keep them separate.
There are also a few undescribed types that may or may not get their own species one day:
Heros sp. 'Rotkeil'
Heros sp. 'Atabapo'
Heros sp. 'Inirida'
Heros sp. 'Tapajos'
Most pet store and domestically-sold severums are assumed to be H. efasciatus, the green severum. The problem is that most severums (with the exception of the mouthbrooders) can and will inter-breed, so it's entirely possible that tank-bred lines that have existed for years on fish farms are actually mutts that have genes from multiple species. You also have gold and super red severums, and both of these were derived from the aquarium-bred H. efasciatus (so again, they could be mutts).
Hope this helps.
A lot clearer on what the hell are severums now.Hello, I have noticed my Red Shoulder has this small spot on him, and am looking for advice. Have attached a pic. Thank you.
