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I have to say i agreed with most, that S.Multipunctatus does not have a spotted underside. Is this absolutely correct? There is a photo that appears on

http://images.google.co.uk/imgres?imgur ... D%26sa%3DN

that shows a genuine multi with spotted underside.

Any thoughts on this?

I think this is indeed a true multi and not a hybrid.
highly unusual though.....

maybe it's a crossbreed? I mean like S multipunc x S "sp Goldeneye" for example?
these "species" of different multipunctatus can and do crossbreed when matched. wich IMO makes them subspecies or local varieties if you please.

IMO there's only 1 species of S multipunctatus with a fair few subspecies adding to the confusion. don't quote me on this, mind; I'm not an ichyologist, it's just a very strong hunch. the fact that you can easily crossbreed them and have fertile offspring as a result adds to my theory.

I also cannot be sure that the fish in the pix is a crossbreed, but it IS a very unsual multipunctatus. typical that the "belly spots" are all in a small area near the pectorals, not even spread along the belly like in other Syno species. maybe the fish in question once lost that patch of skin and it grew back with an odd pattern? wouldn't be the first time that something like that happens.

so it's not a 100% rule that ALL multipunctatus don't have ANY spots on their belly. I still think it's a 99,99% rule though.

IME, SOME S multipunctatus DO have spots on their bellies.