P. maccus has a broad distribution throughout the Venezuelan and Colombian llanos. Most collected for the trade are captured near Villavicencio, Colombia (Rio Meta drainage) while the original description was based on specimens collected in Venezuela (Rio Portuguesa). As with any sp with such a broad distribution, there is a fair amount of variation between populations. However, in my opinion, not enough to classify then as separate spp or sub spp.
However, a good point here is that L104 is found (according to DATZ) in the Amazonas drainage, whilst L162 is listed from Rio Orinoco.
I see the confusion here. DATZ states "Venezuela, Amazonas, near Puerto Ayacucho." This is NOT the Amazon drainage. Amazonas, in this case, refers to the Venezuelan State named Amazonas, not the Amazon river basin.
Adding to the confusion is that the fish were not captured at Puerto Ayacucho. They are collected in the llanos and shipped upriver (Villavicencio) or down river (Puerto Carreno) for onward shipment through Bogota. This info probably came from a Colombian exporter who said, "I bought them in Puerto Ayacucho." Certainly true, but it is not where they were collected!
L 104, L 162, some of LDA 22 (LDA 22 pics in Aqualog show 3 distinct spp), some of LDA 67 (LDA 67 pics are of two distinct spp), should all look the same as they represent the same spp.
LDA 68 is a different spp of
Panaque. They are collected in the llanos but are never separated from
P. maccus as the collectors do not distinguish between fish that look so similar that they command the same price. Almost all shipments of
P. maccus are a mixture of the two spp. With a little practice it is easy to tell the two apart.
-Shane
LDA 68 collected in the Colombian llanos (upper Rio Meta)
P. maccus collected not far from the holotype location in Venezuela (Rio Tinaco)
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