Pseudorinelepis sp. (L095)

[Rudolf Caers]

In Cat Chat, Journal of the catfish study group (UK) 2002 v. 3 (no. 1).: 11-30 is Pseudorinelepis sp. (L095) a synonym from
PSEUDORINELEPIS GENIBARBIS
In CLOFFSCA. 2003: i-xi + 1-729 describe also PSEUDORINELEPIS GENIBARBIS as a local name Orange cheeck pleco
please, delete Pseudorinelepis sp. (L095)

rudolf.caers@skynet.be

[Borbi]

Hi,

please, delete Pseudorinelepis sp. (L095)

I´ll have to disagree with this request.
It is true that Armbruster & Hardman identified P. sp. "L 95" as male P. genibarbis. This is probably the basis for this information.
Note, however, that they only had a single specimen at hand which they found to be male. Therefore, they hypothesized that the males of P. genibarbis develop the orange cheek coloration and the spots on the body as a kind of sexual dichromatism.
We do know, however, from several imports for the aquarium trade, that there indeed are male P. genibarbis (from Peru), none of which has the orange cheeks and other characteristics of P. sp. "L 95". In turn, both sexes of P. sp. "L 95", both having the orange cheeks and black dots, are frequently imported from Brazil (Rio Negro area).

If you (PCF) intend to strictly follow purely scientific publications, P. sp. "L 95" should be considered a variety of P. genibarbis. However, that conclusion is (IMHO) based on an inconclusive data basis (a single specimen). After all, it is in the nature of scientific publications to focus on described species. In turn, that makes them a "lousy" basis for the discussion of as-yet undescribed "species".

Cheers, Sandor

[Jools]

I agree with Sandor (and the wider view) - having seen several adults of both these I think I am happy to place one of them in an l-number. What might be the case is that one of the numerous synonyms of this species turns out to be L095 in which case we do have a dilema - but that needs looked at.

For now, they are kept separate.

Jools

[Sjors]

I know its almost 6 years later. But i was looking at information about the l095 and its habitat. I saw on pcf distribution: Rio Purus.
Amazon, Middle Amazon (Solimoes). In this topic i also read Rio Negro. The website of L-Welse says: Rio Branco, Demini und Negro, Brasilien.

So is it correct that Rio Negro should be added on the distribution information?