Pimelodus maculatus or blochii or ?

DeepFriedIctalurus · Post by **DeepFriedIctalurus** » 15 Mar 2004, 06:03

I've had this fish about 3 months now, in that time it's grown from 6.5cm to the 12cm SL it is now. Clearly it's not done growing, but it's pattern/color hasn't changed at all since I brought it home. The spots were never black or dark brown, or crossing over the white lines like most P.maculatus I've seen. Then there's alot about it telling me it's not P.albofasciatus either.

http://public.fotki.com/Tylerja/pimelodus_1/

On the other hand I noticed it just about matches the 2nd pic in the E-log of a larger w/ a straight margin on the apidose fin (like mine), while the 1st pic and others around the net have a round apidose.

Tyler

Post by **Silurus** » 15 Mar 2004, 10:49

It's a blochii, or at least a member of the P. blochii species-complex.

DeepFriedIctalurus · Post by **DeepFriedIctalurus** » 17 Mar 2004, 08:36

Thanks for the reply anyway, I was aware how difficult some of these pims are to positively ID w/o a collection locale. The term "complex" in this species complex definately has more than one meaning.
Reminds me of a couple other topics involving Synodontis schall & it's relatives..heh

I guess I'll just take this opportunity to point out that the 2nd pic in the E-log of P.maculatus, really isn't..but I'm sure you already knew that.
Ah well at least I can provide a few more pics of that fish if needed.