Leiarius longibarbis and Leiarius marmoratus

[sequoiacat]

Is there a diference between the two? If so what is the difference(s)?

[MatsP]

This is a matter that has been debated for some time - we used to have all our L. marmoratus under the L. longibarbis name until a year or two ago.

This is what the L. marmoratus page says

There is some history of confusion in the Leiarius genus. L. marmoratus was for some time a synonym of L. longibarbis, but it was taken out of synonymy by Ferraris in his Catalog of Catfishes (2007). Fish are still sometimes seen as L. longibarbis, but most likely they are L. marmoratus.

--
Mats

[The.Dark.One]

The holotype of L. longibarbis (at 36cm TL) had small black spots on the body and fins, and the top of the head with no markings.

[sequoiacat]

Okay.

[TheFishGuy]

I find this to be an interesting topic. I have two of what were sold as longibarbis. I also have two that were rescued that were sold to them as marmoratus. Interesting thing is, all four are in the same tank but they do definately act differently. The marmoratus are very charasmatic, swimming out in the open and feeding on the floating food greedily. The longibarbus (one is a rescue) are both very sheepish and shy, rarely being seen but once a month maybe. They are very very different. BUT look very similar. The marmoratus are both around two foot, one of the longibarbis is about 18" the other is about 12". The smaller one was the rescue, raised in a completely different environment than it's in now, yet still, they still act the same... I'd like to pull all four out and examine them closely but that's just not realistic... LOL

[Viktor Jarikov]

hmmm, is not one superficial answer that the smaller longibarbis's are intimidated (physically or psychologically or both) by the larger marmoratuses? just the size? I have somewhat similar scenarios in a couple of tanks with marmoratuses (?) and L. pictuses. They do fight out the pecking order between themselves. The losers usually stay out of sight and feed less.

[TheFishGuy]

The two smaller ones were in the tank first and have always been this way. As for a pecking order amung the cats... at nite they all pile up on one another and seem to enjoy each others company. The only jerk is the snodontis notada... LOL