Results for “species name”

Given its wide natural range it seems logical that this species is or has been available in the aquarium trade, although its correct name may never have been applied. It is told apart from congeners by the following combination of characters: two pairs of barbels; a continuous midlateral stripe from the tip of the snout to the base of the caudal-fin, with a conspicuous small blotch at the posterior extremity, faintly marked on the caudal-fin; a faint mark between the anus and the anal-fin origin in juveniles; a narrow mouth.

There are in excess of 30 described species of Serrasalmus many of which appear superficially similar and have confusing taxonomic histories. S. rhombeus is among the most convoluted of all with numerous synonyms of which S. niger is the most well-known. There has also been a muddle surrounding the common names "white" and "black" piranha, both of which have been used to describe the species. Of greater interest to both scientists and hobbyists has been the discovery of n...

Bunocephalus is the largest genus within the Aspredinidae family and there are several undescribed species. B. coracoideus is the most common member seen in dealers' tanks. Its native name "Guitarrita" translates as "little guitar" and refers to the shape of the fish when viewed from above. Despite the regularity with which it is seen for sale, it isn't really a good catfish for the general community tank because it's a largely inactive, secretive species, ...

The vernacular name of this fish is derived from its appearance and behaviour, rather than a genetic association with the marine barracuda, and it's also sometimes referred to as 'pike characin' or 'spotted cachorro' with local vernacular names including 'Grand dent-chien' (French Guiana), ' Cachorrinho' or 'Ueua' (Brazil). Although most species of Acestrorhynchus appear superficially similar to one another most exhibit distinguishable external chara...

This species may have appeared in the aquarium trade though probably not under the correct name. It can be told apart from similar-looking congeners by the following combination of characters: presence of a black round spot at the caudal base; dorsal-fin rays black with connecting membranes transparent; posterior dorsal-fin origin located midway between upper angle of gill aperture and caudal-fin base, or slightly closer to the latter.

Type locality is 'Mé-Nam River, Thailand', with 'Mé-Nam' having been considered an older name for the Chao Phraya river in central and western Thailand prior to this species' redescription by Tejavej (2012). In fact 'menam' is the Thai word for 'river' and thus could refer to any drainage, and B. ornatus is restricted to...

In Brazil P. castexi is currently banned from export, although it can still be legally obtained from other countries. There's a high level of polychromatism (differences in colour and pattern) displayed by this species, and in the hobby some of the colour forms have been given distinguishing names. Below is a list of some of the commoner varieties, along with some defining characteristics: Otorongo Ray (also known as "Jaguar" Ray, P25, P26, P28 or P35): This popular variant has...

This species has been in the aquarium trade since 2010 and is sold under several names including 'Chinese vermilion goby', 'Zhou's scarlet goby', 'scarlet goby', and 'flame goby'. It can be told apart from congeners by the following combination of characters: second dorsal-fin rays I, 8-9; anal-fin rays I, 7-8; pectoral-fin rays 16-18; longitudinal scale series 29-31; predorsal scales 10-12; vertebral count 10+16=26.

This species first became available in early 2010 and sometimes appears on trade lists under the vernacular names 'Laos sucker' or 'Laos Sakura sucker'. It's distinguishable from other members of the genus by the following combination of characters: body spotted and without stripes; no concentric bands on paired fins; origin of pelvic-fin below origin of dorsal-fin; origin of pectoral-fin posterior to corner of mouth; pelvic fin reaching origin of anal fin; small elevated ...

This species has been traded for a number of years, though not always under the correct name. We've seen it on sale as S. elegans or S. atropurpureus on numerous occasions, for example, and other trade names include 'Sumatran blue neon goby', 'cobalt blue goby' and 'freshwater neon goby'. Further confusion has arisen because other species are sometimes sold as S. semoni meaning identification has not always been easy and there ...

This species first appeared in the aquarium hobby in 2006 and is sometimes traded under the name 'Tulip barb'. It was officially described by Kullander in early 2008 in a paper describing five new Puntius species from Kachin, all of which are superficially similar in possession of a dark band or blotch on the caudal peduncle. P. erythromycter can be distinguished b...

This species was previously thought to be, and is often still sold as, A. hancockii, a name currently considered synonymous with Platydoras hancockii (Valenciennes 1840). It's also known by the vernacular names of blue-eyed catfish or Hancock's doradid, and in many ways is an ideal beginners' catfish, being hardy and tolerant of a wide range of water conditions...

This species has a chaotic taxonomic history with certain issues still to be resolved. While the name P. mahecola was misapplied to members of the genus Dawkinsia for over a century the fish itself has been widely misidentified as the congener P. amphibius (Valenciennes 1842). Its identity was partially resolved by Pethiyagoda and Kottelat (2005b) who demonstrated that though valid P. mahecola is not a Dawkinsia spp. but rather a smaller, relatively plain species with a single dark blotc...

This species is rarely-exported for the aquarium hobby but is available on occasion. The name 'P.' kuchingensis is frequently misapplied, however, with subadult forms of 'P.' everetti and some populations of the geographically-variable 'P.' lateristriga regularly traded as such, for example. Though closely-affiliated with and superficially very similar to...

While some laterally-striped members of the genus look very similar to one another the combination of silvery body, dark-edged scales and dark caudal peduncle blotch set C. reticulatus uniquely apart. The names Crossocheilus tchangi, Epalzeorhynchos coatesi and E. stigmaeus are all now considered synonyms of the species but were erected because the fish vary, most often in minor aspects of patt...

This species is rare in the aquarium trade with the majority of fish available under the name or the vernacular 'pentazona barb' being the closely-related D. hexazona. The two are almost identical in terms of both appearance and meristics but can be separated by the fact that D. pentazona possesses a small dark marking at the posterior base of the dorsal-fin which is absent in D. hexazona.

This unidentified species was first collected in 2007 but very little is known about it. The vernacular name refers to the colour pattern on the body which resembles that of a giraffe, and it's known to be collected in Myanmar although its distribution and natural habitat remain a mystery.

Confusion with similar-looking fishes from other genera, such as Garra cambodgiensis, laterally-striped Crossocheilus spp. or Gyrinocheilus aymonieri is not uncommon, and are largely attributable to the use of trade names such as 'false flying fox' or 'Siamese flying fox'. When compared with the other species E. kalopterus exhibits several unique characters but perhaps the simplest way to identify it is by the characteristic white-edged, red and black coloured fins and the presence of two pairs of barbels.

L. disparis is sometimes available as bycatch among shipments of other species such as Rhinogobius duospilus but also appears on trade lists under the fictitious scientific name 'Homaloptera hoffmani'. It can be told apart from similar-looking members of the genus Formosania by its noticeably shorter barbels and from Vanmanenia spp. by the fact that the rostral fold is not lobed and the mouth is relatively small (25% head width. In addition the lower lip in Liniparhomaloptera is not divided and has a flat, papillated edge.

The common name is derived from the ability of genus members to produce audible sounds via a specialised pectoral mechanism which is unique within the family Osphronemidae. The structure comprises modified pectoral-fin tendons and muscles which are stretched and plucked by basal elevations of two fin rays in a similar way to guitar strings via rapid beating of the fins. The pectoral-fins beat alternately, each able to generate short or long bursts of sound. These sounds are produced by both sexes, predom...