Cryptoheros nigrofasciatus 'Honduran Red Point'

[tjudy]

Hi Juan,

I bet you have questions like this one about a million times.

I notice that you include the 'Honduran Red Point' in the species C.
nigrofasciatus when you name the fish on this site. The
debate rages on whether the Honduran race is a separate species. Can
you let me in on why you say it is nigrofasciatus?

Also, I notice that on your personal bio page you list that you are
keeping C. nigrofasciatus 'Honduras'. Is this the same fish as what we are
calling the 'Honduran Red Point'? There is a general impression (though
I doubt anyone really knows) that the first HRP were brought to the USA
in 1992... many people assume that this initial capture and import (by
travelling hobbyists) is when the fish were discovered. I suspect that
the strain has been known for longer than that though.

Can you shed some light on this debate?

Thanks,

Ted

[Juan Artigas]

Dear Ted,

The reason I use the common geographical notation quote for C. nigrofasciatus "Honduras red point" is because C. nigrofasciatus exhibits such a big color variation in its range from Guatemala to Panama that I personally believe Honduras Red Point is just one variation more. Furthermore, I presently know of no substantial evidence as to believe it is a different species and I would not like to contribute to speculation. I keep a group of Cryptoheros nigrofasciatus from rio Patuca, close from Danli in Honduras, that were given to me in 1999 by Jean Claude Nourissat, thay exhibit a color pattern very close to the fish known as "Honduras red point" but still show some differences to the fish we commonly see in pictures as such, showing how real the variation in C. nigrofasciatus it. I know of populations of C. nigrofasciatus from Costa Rica and Panama which also exhibit very particular (And bright!) coloration patterns, I personally maintain one of them I collected in the northwest of Costa Rica, a very attractive raze which shows a strong yellow coloration.

In proclaiming the aquarium introduction of the Honduras red point in 1992, we have to consider collections potentially made mainly by Germans and French, but also by other parties, before that time (A common happening), being probably just safe to proclaim "First imported in the USA".

All the best