Hypancistrus sp. L004?

[Sanplec]

Hello everyone,

Today I've bought 2 new Hypancistrus sp.
I think they're L004 and male and female?
They're 10 cm long.









Thanks in advance

[husky_jim]

i 'd say...

Hypancistrus inspector

[claro]

Hi,

I think they're L004 male and female.
My pair of L 004 is lighter and I have some older male because is has stronger spines, but compare the shape of the body, head and fins. I think you bought as well as I do.

http://www.hypancistrus.eu/hypancistrus-sp-l028

Milan

[Suckermouth]

While we're on the subject, how does L004 differ from H. lunaorum?

i 'd say...

Hypancistrus inspector

I disagree.

[MatsP]

H. lunaorum is Rio Orinoco drainage. H. sp(L004) is from eastern Brazil. Whilst this doesn't mean a definitely different species, I think it's fair to say that it should be taken into account, at the very least.

I don't know what, if any, physical differences there are...

--
Mats

[alga]

They look very similar to photos I took when I moved my group of inspectors a while back...at that time they were still called 102's (Damn am I old). It would be nice to get new shots once they settle in a bit.

[husky_jim]

While we're on the subject, how does L004 differ from H. lunaorum?

i 'd say...

Hypancistrus inspector

I disagree.

Can you explain why you disagree?

it is clearly that the fish match 100% the description of H. Inspector.....

Quote from CatElog: "the snowball pleco is most easily identified by the black ribbon or seam along the margin of its caudal and dorsal fins."


Am i missing something on this?

Does any of the L004 or H.Lunaorum have this unique characteristic that the pictured fish have?

[Suckermouth]

Does any of the L004 or H.Lunaorum have this unique characteristic that the pictured fish have?

H. inspector have larger white spots on its body than its head; this might not sound like much but the spot pattern in H. inspector is completely different from H. lunaorum, L004, and H. contradens. They are also slightly different in body shape from most other Hypancistrus, with a deeper and wider body.

I don't think the black fin edges are present on H. lunaorum.

[apistomaster]

I always find it interesting how many species occur in both the Orinoco and Amazon basins. Cardinal Tetras and Lyretail Checker board Dwarf Cichlid, Dicrossus filamentosus are 2 well known examples. In isolation the Cardinals outwardly appear to be identical but although nearly identical, there is a slight difference in the dicrossus filamentosus populations. Their caudal fin markings between these isolated populations are diffierent.. I would have to see them both side by side to be able to tell and collection info. Something similar would not be surprising in species which seem to have have a lot of plasticity in appearance as many Hypancistrus do.
We in the hobby, I'm sure, would like to see an ambitious ichthyologist to due a careful revision of the genus Hypancisturs. Especially the multitude of Brazilian species. At least some of the more common Orinoco species have been described.

[MatsP]

There are 6 described Hypancistrus. We have 37 "species" in the Cat-eLog, so there is 31 other species to look at for the scientists. Assuming 3 months per species (actual work time, not counting waiting time to get loans from other museums etc), that makes 96 months, full time. That's 8 years of one scientists time.

--
Mats

[Yann]

Hi!!

Sorry but Husky Jim was right this is indeed Hypancistrus inspector, the typical black margin on the fin can be found only on this species
They are showing a stress coloration but you wouldn't see such black margin in any other Hypancistrus species.

Actually it is a very good deal, buying H. inspector for the price of L04 is a steal...and H. inspector isn't found as easily as the Hypancistrus sp L04/05/28/73
Cheers
Yann

[Sanplec]

Thanks all!
When I compare the fish with the L102 or inspector, I would also think this is the same fish. They're also quite big (not in length, but width and height) compared with my other adult Hypancistrus. So that could tell these fish grow bigger I think.
I didn't know the inspector is more rare then the L004. I was thinking that the L004 was quite rare, because I never see these fish in the trade.
However, I think these are very beautyful and those black margins make this fish even more beautyful!
Once again thank you very much for all of your thoughts!