Vieja synspilA VS. Paratheraps synspilUM

[Frank Castle]

Yes synspilum and synsipilia = same fish.

Now someone decode this mystery for me

Zonatus, guttulatum, coatzacoalcos

I read two are the same just different catch locations. Also read about the lateral strip extending to the eye but then have seen both zonatus amd coatzacoalcos with it... (i think)

IDK, Brother...I have a Quetzal cichlid in my tank downstairs and I can tell you after seeing numerous pictures of Red-headed cichlids over the past 7 years or so, this is definitely not a Red-Headed. How could they be the same when the dental hardware is so different. The read-headed's teeth are almost reptilian and conical like Amphilophus or Parachromis.....you can't even SEE teeth on a Quetzal. Why would a fruit -and-seed-eater have teeth meant for grasping fish or cracking open snail shells? It simply makes no sense.

 

[justarn]

Lol, I now have visions of him climbing through bushes eating berry's. Probably with various jars of small captured fish in jars on his belt and a Livingstone hat on...

 

[jaws7777]

IDK, Brother...I have a Quetzal cichlid in my tank downstairs and I can tell you after seeing numerous pictures of Red-headed cichlids over the past 7 years or so, this is definitely not a Red-Headed. How could they be the same when the dental hardware is so different. The read-headed's teeth are almost reptilian and conical like Amphilophus or Parachromis.....you can't even SEE teeth on a Quetzal. Why would a fruit -and-seed-eater have teeth meant for grasping fish or cracking open snail shells? It simply makes no sense.

Dunno man not disagreeing with you but there could be many variables to that. Could be that yours is a one off ? Could be more or less line bred than what your comparing it to ? Could be that maybe its not a pur synspilum?

Good thread though anything involving better understanding vieja's is a gpod thing

Lol, I now have visions of him climbing through bushes eating berry's. Probably with various jars of small captured fish in jars on his belt and a Livingstone hat on...

Wilsoooooooon !!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[xraycer]

Lol, I now have visions of him climbing through bushes eating berry's. Probably with various jars of small captured fish in jars on his belt and a Livingstone hat on...

He's probably sporting a loin cloth made from sloth hide

 

[justarn]

Lol, and wooden clogs.

 

[jaws7777]

He's probably sporting a loin cloth made from sloth hide

Damn not a good visual

 

[tiger15]

There is no controversy between Paratheraps and Vieja, only melanura and sysnspillum. Recent DNA analysis by scientists determined that melanura and synspillum are synonymous species due to identical DNA sequence. It's a controversial determination though because many Victorian cichlid species show identical DNA too yet the scientists classified them as different species based on color and morphology differences. It appears that scientists can cherry pick traits to classify species. I am not surprised that melanura and synspillum may be split up again in the future as the two fish in the trade show obvious differences in color and morphology.

 

[Frank Castle]

There is no controversy between Paratheraps and Vieja, only melanura and sysnspillum. Recent DNA analysis by scientists determined that melanura and synspillum are synonymous species due to identical DNA sequence. It's a controversial determination though because many Victorian cichlid species show identical DNA too yet the scientists classified them as different species based on color and morphology differences. It appears that scientists can cherry pick traits to classify species. I am not surprised that melanura and synspillum may be split up again in the future as the two fish in the trade show obvious differences in color and morphology.

But I'm still confused.....are you saying the Quetzal and the Red-Headed are 2 different species, but same genus or different genus AND species or none of the above?

 

[jaws7777]

Sorry frank i ahould have never mentioned melanurus...

 

[Jmart159]

Same genus, same species, same fish. Just different morphs. The way an animal looks plays the tiniest role in determining the species. Often times animals that look identical can be miles apart on the phylogenetic tree while two animals that look nothing alike can be one in the same.