Hypancistrus ID
Posted: 11 Sep 2009, 05:34
Collected in lower Rio Xingu, came in a box of L-174's, shipped out of Belem in Feb 2008. These were striped and 1" (SL) when I got them and looked like L-173 before they turned to spotted fish. You can still see some striping on a couple of them and you can see how the stripes are turning/breaking into spots. Let me know what you think. I think 287/400.
smaller fish on right is spotted facing east....and...
smaller fish is striped facing west.
smaller fish on right is spotted facing east....and...
smaller fish is striped facing west.
The big, forked tail and elongate body shape is typical for L287/L399/L400. This is also typical for L-173. Individuals of both these species can look identical, as some L-173 are less striped and some L-400 are more striped than what is common. But pattern is not the best way do distinguish Hypancistrus species of this complex, as variation is too high.