Vieja synspilA VS. Paratheraps synspilUM

[jaws7777]

I thought melanurus was the new name of Synspilum. It was reclassified right?

All of them were reclassified into mesoheros or something.... im sticking with vieja

 

[Buphy]

My understanding, though limited, is that synspila/synspilum were the same and had been reclassified as melanarus. The differences not yet hashed out being just different color morphs from different areas/ line breeding.

 

[jaws7777]

To me synspilums always look different almost like no two look alike (not being literal)

 

[jaws7777]

My understanding, though limited, is that synspila/synspilum were the same and had been reclassified as melanarus. The differences not yet hashed out being just different color morphs from different areas/ line breeding.

I could be totally off but i thought all or most of the vieja were reclassified as paraneetroplus. Then reclassified again.

duanes should be able to clear that up

 

[mikem691]

They were re classified as maskaheros along with my argentea. I will be surprised if this stays though. No one seems to want to relearn all this.

 

[Buphy]

Ya, I agree. I'm pretty sure they were put into paratheraps last I looked, though I've heard speculation that the scientist naming them job involves excessive drinking =P

 

[justarn]

Still all Vieja to me, paratheraps are Vieja to me!-)

 

[Frank Castle]

Pics would be useful in describing the dofferences you mentioned

I totally agree, but you'll understand after searching awhile when I say "Good luck finding some online" LOL

Still the important thing we need to be focusing on is that they are 2 DIFFERENT fish. Take a look at the enlarged canine teeth on a "Red-Headed" cichlid......you won't see them on the Quetzal cichlid because it has no use for them due to it's diet

 

[sodas]

I think synspilum and melanurus are two different species or at least different colour variations.
Many of the ex-vieja are getting reclassified . Paranetroplus Synspilus seems to be the valid
name of the fish. Vieja argentea has also been reclassified as maskaheros argentea

 

[duanes]

The scientific name of a cichlid (or any other organism) is all about when it was described, morphological data, and lately DNA.
According to the latest studies melanurus and synspilla share the exact same DNA, so are the same fish (albeit different color, or location morphs).
Because the cichlid was first scientifically described in 1862, that species name takes precedence, Heros melanurus.
But genus names are in flux because DNA data may place what was once to to be in one genus, in another. Paratheraps is recent, 1989, and Vieja 1991, and Paraneetroplus 2010. So all the fish you describe are the same. Whether you think one appears to be more Amphilophus like, get a hump, or is aggressive, is really not relevant. Its all about scientific data. And scientific data is in flux as new developments come to light.