Photo by Ian Fuller
Corydoras spectabilis
A description of a new Corydoras was published last month in the German journal "aktuell" also known as "VDA-aktuell" or "VDA-Rundbrief" (VDA is a parent-organisation in which most of the German aquarium societies are connected, they publish a quarterly journal. The journal is free for all member societies - about 30,000 members). The article is called: "Eine weitere neue Art der Gattung Corydoras LACEPEDE, 1803 aus dem Mato Grosso (Pisces Siluriformes, Callichthyidae)"[VDA-aktuell 1/2000: 74-79]. The author is Joachim Knaack who published some Corydoras descriptions almost 40 years ago.
The new species is called Corydoras spectabilis KNAACK, 1999 (note:the journal issue is 1/2000 but was delievered in December 1999). The locus typicus, or type locality, is the upper Rio Guaporé in the area of Vila Bela, Mato Grosso, Brazil. The species looks very much like C. caudimaculatus but has an elongated snout like C. haraldschultzi. It would appear that this fish shows up as a contaminant, or by-catch, in shipments of C. caudimaculatus, so keep your eyes open.
Reference: Knaack J. 1999. Eine weitere neue Art der Gattung Corydoras LACEPEDE, 1803 aus dem Mato Grosso (Pisces Siluriformes, Callichthyidae) VDA-aktuell Jan. 2000: 74-79.
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