New Apistogramma from Peru

[cichla]

http://www.vertebrate-zoology.de/vz61-1 ... Roemer.pdf

[Rafael.]

Hi Ingo.

A great paper wiht a lot of picture and once you see the pictures you can say that this apistos have put a very descriptive and appropriate name.

Thanks,

Rafael.

[cichla]

Dear Rafael, Dear all,
yes many photos.
Curious to read that the poor critters are in need to be cleaned with a tooth brush
Greetings, IS

[Mike Wise]

This species was introduced to the hobby as A. sp. Schwarzbrust/Black-breast and sold commercially under the name "Roterpunkt-Apistogramma". This is not the same species as A. sp. Rotpunkt/A. cf. alacrina (Rotpunkt), which is a very different species. I was able to collect this species in 2008 at the type locality and in a stream 10 km farther south near the town of Nauta.

[cichla]

Thank you Mike for this important information. However, Römer et al. (2011) argued that the species is endemic to the little crater-like lake (type locality). See Römer et al. (2011: 17-18) „...the new species has apparently been found nowhere else, either within or outside the Peruvian Departamento Loreto.''

[cichla]

Dear Mike, Dear all,
talking with leading experts of the taxonomy of Apistogramma and re-reading aquaristic books and publications I become aware that you are right, Mike. The species is not endemic to this lake (which was unlikely, by the way), but known from some places (at least) around the type-locality. It is not even new for the aquarists, because the species is known in the hobby as Apistogramma sp. „Schwarzbrust“ or as A. „Masken“.
I just wonder why Römer does not mentioned it in the description.
Greetings, IS

[Mike Wise]

I must admit that a couple of the photos do appear to be of A. sp. "Masken/Masked", but I can't be positive without seeing the specimens. Obviously A. sp. "Masken" and A. cinilabra are 2 different species. They even belong to 2 different species-complexes within the A.-regani-group. My collecting partners and I never found "Masken" together with A. cinilabra at the type locality. We were told that A. sp. "Schwarzkinn/Black-chin" occurs at the locality, but we did not find it there.

I fear that the reason that the name A. sp. "Schwarzbrust" is not mentioned is because it was first introduced to the hobby under that name by Ingo Koslowski. There is 'no love lost' for Koslowski by Römer, who tries to ignore references by Koslowski (and several other authors) when possible. This is probably because Koslowski (correctly) has corrected mis-identifications by Römer so often (too much pride??). Don't get me wrong, I admire what Römer is doing - especially his research on cichlid ecology studies is excellent - but IMHO Koslowski is better at species identification, although he is not a professional taxonomist.

[cichla]

Dear Mike, dear all.
Yes, you are right ones again, Mike. Apistogramma sp. "Masken” is indeed a different species.
The information about “why Schwarbrust isn't mentioned by Römer” are interesting. By the way, both have the very same profession. Anyway, I think that the profession has no major influence on the ability to determine a sample.
To suppress (intentionally not to cite) the publications of unwelcome opponents is misleading and is even a threat of the development of knowledge. This is why such behaviour is usually treated (at least by the majority of epistemologists) as scientific misconduct.
Greetings, IS