semiaquilas

Waldo · Post by **Waldo** » 09 Oct 2005, 03:15

I'm familiar with the body style of the so called semiaquilas. But does this include barbatos?

Post by **Silurus** » 09 Oct 2005, 03:31

No, it doesn't. Scleromystax typically have more gently sloping snouts.

Waldo · Post by **Waldo** » 09 Oct 2005, 18:14

so that would make 4 seperate cory like body styles a, I right? Cory, Brochis, Semiaquilas, and Scleromystax?

Post by **Silurus** » 09 Oct 2005, 18:18

If you include Aspidoras, that is basically the picture (albeit an overly simplified one).

Waldo · Post by **Waldo** » 09 Oct 2005, 20:51

I apologize. Every answer only reveals more quesions. On the "cat" it shows semiaquilas as a cory sp., If i'm correct that information is wrong semiaquilas has already been determined to be a genus. Then it further lists 9 genus under Callichthyidae. Do ichtheologists recognize thos 9 genus under that family?

Post by **Silurus** » 09 Oct 2005, 20:57

Body shape has not really been used to diagnose genera. Not within the Corydoradinae anyway. So it is incorrect to surmise that no. of body shapes=no. of genera.

Waldo · Post by **Waldo** » 09 Oct 2005, 22:08

Thanks. What is the determining factor in taxinomy. I finally got my head away from identifying fish as red or blue....

. I could see DNA as being a way but do they use a certain percentage to identify a seperate sp/ genus, or are they looking for certain traits in the DNA?

Post by **Silurus** » 09 Oct 2005, 22:14

With the advent of phylogenetic systematics, genera nowadays tend to be diagnosed by internal [osteological(=bone)] characters.

Waldo · Post by **Waldo** » 10 Oct 2005, 01:01

Amazing. I would have thunk the elongated head of the semiaquilas would have been a sure thing of something different. In fact I have on my order sheet two sp of semiaquilas but they must just be different color morphs of the same sp. Thanks again for all your help. It's not every day you get to talk about something other then "my fish has ich" in forums ;) .

kim m · Post by **kim m** » 10 Oct 2005, 03:45

When did semiaquilas become a genus like scleromystax, brochis, corydoras, etc.? And wich species belongs to this genus...

Waldo · Post by **Waldo** » 10 Oct 2005, 04:07

I think we just clarified this as semiaquilas being recognized a sp of corydora. I was under the assumption that it was a genus.

kim m · Post by **kim m** » 10 Oct 2005, 04:14

Ok, now I understand...a bit tired after a 12 hour night shift

...thought I'd missed something. Thank you for explaining it.

Waldo · Post by **Waldo** » 10 Oct 2005, 04:36

all is well. I still have my doubts that the size/ general structure of them should be considered a cory. if anything I would even say it is more brochis minus the rays

Waldo · Post by **Waldo** » 10 Oct 2005, 04:37

BTW Planet catfish... you can use my picture if you'd like.

Post by **Shane** » 10 Oct 2005, 04:59

I finally got my head away from identifying fish as red or blue....

Good job Waldo. First step to becoming a catfish expert is to look at form over color. Sorry, I did not mean to sound so "Kung-Fu."
-Shane

Post by **Coryman** » 10 Oct 2005, 12:59

Waldo,

Looking at the family Corydoradinae, which Corydoras La CÃ©pÃ¨de, 1803 is the senior member followed by Scleromystax GÃ¼nther, 1864; Brochis Cope, 1871 and Aspidoras Ihering, 1907.

Although the basic body shapes in themselves are not the main criteria for determining genera it certainly plays a part, I am no scientist so i will not attempt to explain what does constitute a genera, but for the purpose of this thread, when looking at Corydoradinae the body shape and external features do give us very good clues to the genus we are looking at. The species you are talking about, Corydoras semiaquilus is and will remain a true Corydoras because it keys in very closely with the characteristics of the type specimen Corydoras geoffroy.

It is only recently that Scleromystax was reinstated as a valid genus because of certain morphological characters, which make it sufficiently different to Corydoras. There are also a number of other so-called groups within Corydoras that were originally described under different genus names, some of these like Scleromystax may very well be reinstated in the future. The species that fall into the so-called "Elegans group" would be an ideal candidate, the type specimen of Corydoras elegans was first described as Gastrodermus elegans by Steindachner in 1877.

There are many changes afoot but they all take time to put into place.

Ian

Waldo · Post by **Waldo** » 10 Oct 2005, 15:41

Ian... I must say, wonderful post. I guess this is just another aspect in the hobby I need to have patience! The fact that anything gets done at all is amazing considering the handful of people that specialize in ichthyology. Not to mention the amazing number fish out there. Once I get the business going I'm going to definitely start school again to learn the variances.