mystery corys

[wwicks]

I recently received 16 Corydoras Schwartzi, the only problem is that not all of them are C. Schwartzi, or at least they don't look like C. Schwartzi. I seem to have three different species two of which I don't know what they are. Here are some pics:


The fish in the second picture is slightly darker then it looks.
So if any one knows what species or C# they are please tell.

[Jools]

The second fish looks like

Corydoras leucomelas

.

Jools

[wwicks]

Thank you, I believe I have two of these. How rare or common or C. Leucomelas? I may want to sell them to someone who has more as I only have two of them.

[wwicks]

I was sitting watching one of the corys in question and looking through the pics of C. Leucomelas and they seem like a perfect match.

[CoryfanAad]

I doubt if they are. Leucomelas doesn't have the two lines one it's side to my believe. Those are on C.surinamensis and C-numbers Ian mentioned in another thread.

[Karsten S.]

Hi,

this is certainly no C. leucomelas and I highly doubt this being C. surinamensis.
IMHO these are all C. schwartzi, this species is quite variable in colouration.

But with this type of corys it's difficult to be absolutely sure without origin.

Cheers,

[Jools]

I doubt if they are. Leucomelas doesn't have the two lines one it's side to my believe. Those are on C.surinamensis and C-numbers Ian mentioned in another thread.

You may have mis-read what was written. The second fish doesn't have the two lines you mention; both the OP and I were referring to this picture. Comment has not been passed on the first fish (except by you). Can you give me a detailed reason why you confirm they are

Corydoras surinamensis

? Interesting to note that it appears no one has actually seen this fish alive in decades...

Jools

[Jools]

this is certainly no C. leucomelas and I highly doubt this being C. surinamensis.
IMHO these are all C. schwartzi, this species is quite variable in colouration.

Karsten,

This is getting a bit confusing. Are you saying both pictures are the same species and are you saying both are not C. leucomelas?

Cheers,

Jools

[CoryfanAad]

I doubt if they are. Leucomelas doesn't have the two lines one it's side to my believe. Those are on C.surinamensis and C-numbers Ian mentioned in another thread.

You may have mis-read what was written. The second fish doesn't have the two lines you mention; both the OP and I were referring to this picture. Comment has not been passed on the first fish (except by you). Can you give me a detailed reason why you confirm they are

Corydoras surinamensis

? Interesting to note that it appears no one has actually seen this fish alive in decades...

Jools

Sorry Jools, i ccmpared the pics with my catalogue and having some Leucomelas myself (i think) I think they don't look like those. Both fish on the pics have lines or spots in lines as Schwartzi has. Schwartzi doesn't have a black dorsal fin, so I got the thougt that it was a "blackfin Schwartzi" what seems to be the Nickname of surinamensis to my believe. Not knowing they have not been seen for decades. In other threads Ian mentioned c150 / c151 i believe. But I understand from your sarcastic reaction it isn't allowed to try to help / think up loud / learning aso. I'll shut up and appologize for interrupting. Cheers Aad

[Jools]

But I understand from your sarcastic reaction

Again, I think you've mis-read, it was not sarcastic. I was simply probing why you thought it might be a fish that no one appears to have seen alive. I could well be wrong about the second fish being C. leucomelas but it looks very much like the adult C. leucomelas I collected near the type locality in the Amazon. As Karsten says, the whole thing is rather tricky without locality data...

Jools

[wwicks]

The seller I got them from doesn't know exactly where they were caught just that they are from Brazil, if that helps.

[Jools]

That would tend to rule out C. leucomelas. Want to take more pics?

Jools

[CoryfanAad]

Okay Jools, i understand. Excuses for my reaction. These are the pics and info I was reffering to (source Aqualog All Corydoras). They seem to be shorter than the one at the pic though.

[CoryfanAad]

Didn't you mean C. Copenamensis with the one that isn't seen / imported for decades now. Living in a protected indian reserve i believe ?

[Jools]

I'm not sure Aqualog is the best ID guide to go with. Just looking at the picture and the text raises more questions than answers! I'd suggest Fuller & Ever's Cory ID book is the one to use (and it's what we use)...

The spotting however doesn't look like the OPs second fish but it does look like the first a bit (however, the name used in Aqualog is questionable).

Jools

[CoryfanAad]

Especially for the more rare species it isn't for sure I think. Did notice several mistakes in it already (even as a non-expert) I did already look for the Fuller & Evers book, but it isn't very easy to get overhere (Holland) I think but i'll certainly try. Uptill then I won't interfere in this thread hahaha . Greets, Aad

[Karsten S.]

Hi,

I also wouldn't recommend Aqualog as a reference.
At CW there is no pic of a living C. surinamensis, that tells me to be very sceptically with any picture showing C. surinamensis (what Aqualog is actually not pretending). Comparing with the HT I would say Aqualog is showing a cory that is certainly not C. surinamensis (only the given synonym is misleading, "cf." is ok).

The first pic in the first post is showing C. schwartzi IMHO, rather typical ones.
The second pic is not perfect for ID'ing but I'm quite sure that this is not C. leucomelas.
C. leucomelas usually always has a dark dorsal spine at least at the base, the dark blotch is more in the dorsal fin than on the body and also the body proportions don't seem to be exactly right (adult ones should not be only high bodied but also very stocky).
But this is difficult to say for sure with this pic. C. leucomelas has spots which are spread rather randomly on the body and not cumulated on imaginary lines.
I tend towards C. schwartzi as well but I'm not sure.

A picture on which they are not so pale and an exact lateral view might help.

As far as I know C. leucomelas is not commercially exported from Brasil. A mixed export with C. schwartzi is rather unlikely.

Here are some C. leucomelas from an affluent of Rio Tapiche, Peru.



Cheers,

[wwicks]

The reason i thougt pic one was not c. schwartzi was the majority of the corys i recieved do not have a black dorsal spine, i also noticed none of the pics in the catelog for c. schwartzi have a black blackdorsal spine.