PlanetCatfish.com

Hey guys,

Can anyone tell me what catfish this is? (It's not mine):

It looks like a beautifully marked . It is possible that it's something else, as to be sure I'd like to see the size of the mouth and shape of the head a bit better.

[Btw, it's got an L-number (I think it's L104), but I feel that L-numbers should really only be used for fish that doesn't have a scientific name, as L-numbers are just a different way to give common names to fish, and several L-numbers can be one specie once they are described, for example].

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Mats

I don't think that's a just on the patterning, but also on the head shape which looks a bit pointed. I'd go for L129.


Jools

Hi!

Yeap it is an Hypancistrus for sure... not still quite sure it is an L129...
Do you have any more pictures

Cheers
Yann

I thought it was a L333, but i'm not sure either...

I've asked the owner of the catfish for more (better) pictures... If I have them, I'll post them here...

Looks like what I know as 318.

Jon wrote:Looks like what I know as 318.

Well, that's a possibility but the background colour is bluish black in L318 and brownish black in L129.

We could quickly discount one or the other if we know where it came from (ie Brazil Vs Peru or Colombia).

Jools

My two pennies worth: The pattern on the paired fins of the mystery fish looks very different from those of L129.

The head and body has the same shape as L333 and I think you will find out they are sold as that, we have a problem here...there are several different "types" in these group both other L-numbers with the same bodyshape and sometimes similar pattern. There are at least 3 different types sold as L333 and maybe they are right that they are the same species...but that is not for sure, if they are the same species they are different localitys and should not be mixed.
The type you have had not any L-number before the Aqualog gave them the same as L-333...my view is that they should have been given an own number but mentioned they are similar to L-333, the original L-333 is yellow with black stripes or pattern...these are black (or brownish) and white (or creamy) from youngster to adults. I have mention before in a tread they are similar to L-318 because the one's I have seen have been very variable in the pattern both like this one and like they are pictured in the Datz L-numbers...but they could have been mixed to from the exporter.

The last years it has coming so many different types of the same L-number, like L-66, L-287, L-333 and some more species but my point is that we are to fast to giving them "identity" and the risk is that people mix them and breed them thinking they are the same species.
Until further investigations will tell us exactly what they are...until that we should treat them as they was their own species.

Janne

panaque wrote:My two pennies worth: The pattern on the paired fins of the mystery fish looks very different from those of L129.

No they don't! At least not to my eyes - we need more pictures though. A good profile shot should resolve the L129/L333var question.

Jools

My two pennies worth: The pattern on the paired fins of the mystery fish looks very different from those of L129.

No they don't! At least not to my eyes - we need more pictures though. A good profile shot should resolve the L129/L333var question.

I don't want to start a fight here but I think they do! Look at the pectoral fins for example. The unidentified fish has 7 narrow, parallel, clearly defined dark bands. The L129 in the elog always have at most 4, thick, often connected bands. Similar differences appear in the pelvic and dorsal fins. This puts it closer to L333 in my eyes.

If only we had DNA sequences for all these fish...

I do have the L-129 and have not seen any spots on it - just sparce white stripes.

I have never seen an L-316 in person but from the pictures I have seen it seems very, very similar to the fish in the picture.

Hi!

The number of White and Black line in the dorsal fin differ as the fish get older so certainly not a good criteria to determine a species.

My fist thought on that fish that it is an L333, basically everything heads toward this id, but a lateral body shot would confirm the id...

Cheers
Yann

Out of curiousity ,
why would it not be L-316?

Hi!

Head shape and body pattern are off, L316 is more brown than this and the stripes are not as dark either, also the head shape is off to be L316

Cheers
Yann

Ok, I thought the camera angel is a bit odd and the picture has a yellow tint to it, the pattern looks exactly like the pictures on here and in Datz (at least to me) but thanks for the explanation.

The easiest way to distinguish L316 from all other species is their very small eye's together with the pattern of black and white/bluish white when adults...they share the same size of the eye's as L174.

Janne