What is the scientific name of this whip tail.

[pointpleco]

Hi,

Just wondering what is the scientific name of this whiptail. Just so I know exact one on this site. There is so many that are similar. I’m in Australia so I’m sure there is a limited amount that it could be as we only get a few types. I got it today so these are the only pics I have so far, will get more and upload once it’s settled into the tank better. It’s small about 9-10cm length and very very skinny with a long skinny nose.
They had it listed as Farlowella but of coarse there is many types of farlowellas.

Thanks for any help.

[pointpleco]

Ahhh bloody hell, sorry the pics uploaded upside down.
I will just get some good ones tomorrow.
However i'm thinking its a Farlowella Nattereri ??
Possibly but maybe i'm wrong.

Thanks

[bekateen]

Hi pointpleco,

Yes that's a

Farlowella

, but we'll definitely need better pics for an ID. We have a key to all the species here: viewtopic.php?p=324637#p324637

That will give you a better idea of what angles, views and details we need to see.

Cheers, Eric

[pointpleco]

Hi Eric, thanks again for reply.

But wow, now thats a write up with so much info. Bit overwhelming and now i'm even more confused haha.

So yes i for sure need more and better pics of every angle possible. I think i will give him a few days to settle in. He is currently in a QT and i'm worming as a precaution.
As soon as i feel its safe and less stressful for him i will try get some higher quality pics.

I will probably also post some pics of my other longnose whiptail that is a different species but i have also never been 100% sure about it. It's a adult and i was told its a male. The nose isn't as long and it bends up a bit on the end.

Thanks again and i will post some more pics soon.
Macrae

[Jools]

Hi Macrae,

Your "bendy upwards nosed" whiptail maybe

Sturisoma nigrirostrum

. A picture of the underside of the "nose" and a general shot would probably be enough to ID. Even if they are upside down (a feature of Oz?)

Hope that helps,

Jools

[pointpleco]

Hi Jools,

Thanks for the reply, and yes when i looked into my other one on here that was the one i thought it was. So in my species kept list i added it as that, possibly i was right.
And yes haha, we are upside down compared to you.

Here is some stored pics of the supposed Sturisoma nigrirostrum.
He is always out and posing. I will have to get a under nose pic tomorrow.

Thanks Macrae

[Jools]

Glad you saw the funny side - looks like a good ID, but dark underside of the rostrum will confirm.

Jools

[pointpleco]

Ok thanks, i will get onto pics of that tomorrow.

Macrae

[pointpleco]

Hi,

Ok so i have a fair few photos, i think the more the better.
I see the dark patch under the nose that you talked about.
Also i got some nice pics and angles of the new fish.

Thanks guys

[pointpleco]

Now the photos are coming up sideways. I'm using a phone for pics that's probably why.

[pointpleco]

.

[pointpleco]

Sorry so many pics, just thought maybe easier if i add all of them.

Thanks, Macrae

[bekateen]

The problem I'm having with the ID is that to get to

Farlowella natteri

, you must identify 3 rows of abdominal scutes (trait 5a). I do not see 3 rows of abdominal scutes in your photo.

Cheers, Eric

[pointpleco]

Yes now I understand that a bit more. Mine has 6 rows top to bottom with 2 each side. Not 3, so I take it that the scutes are side by side. So mine had 12 little plates (section things). Sorry I’m not so good with all the names of the exact body parts. I’m better with plecos. If it was what I thought it should have 18 but it doesn’t. Looking at some other types I think it’s possibly the farlowella vittata. But I will continue to look at all the species.

Thanks

[bekateen]

Mine has 6 rows top to bottom with 2 each side.

I think they can have only 3, 4 or 5. I don't think either 2 or 6 is an option. I think you're counting the belly plates. Look at the drawing above the key that shows the farlowellas in side view (download/file.php?id=24592&mode=view), and the artists have colored in the plates right behind the head.

For its abdomen/belly, look right along the center of the belly, the line from the pectoral fins to the pelvic fins. Again, look at the same drawings above the key and you'll see the possibilities.

Hope that gets you started.

Cheers, Eric

[pointpleco]

Yes i was counting the belly plates.
But wow this is hard, the more i look into it the more confused i get.
I have some more better photos out of the water i will upload.
When i think i have made some progress i am then not sure again.
Possibly its going to be easier once it's grown up a bit more.
These fish are so hard to ID for me.

Thanks for this and your patience.

[bekateen]

Get a close up of the belly and the side to show the plates. Keep them high resolution. I'll try to help you.

Good luck,
Eric

[pointpleco]

Hi Eric,

I think this is the best i can get, decent shots and very clear.
I'm leaning towards the belly looking like (a) or (b) in the artists drawings.
And also (f) on the side on picture, they seem to be the closest.
Not very sure if that would or could be correct.
I wonder what you think.
If those photos aren't clear enough once added to this message let me know.

Thanks Macrae

[Shane]

This is most likely F. vittata. When identifying Farlowella it is always best to start with F. vittata as default starting ID as, at least in the U.S., this species represents about 90% of imports. F. vittata are collected in the Colombian llanos in massive numbers for the trade. That said, if my intention was to breed Farlowella, I would try to buy the entire group at one time from the same dealer to have the best chances of getting all one species. I would also check all the scute patterns as a fair percent of any Farlowella import will include the three row species F. mariaelenae. The two spp. are found co-located in the wild and exporters do not separate them out.
-Shane

[bekateen]

Thanks, Shane, for the insight.

Farlowella vittata

was where I was landing on the key, but I couldn't see the photos well enough to confirm.

Not long ago my LFS got a shipment of vittata and mixed with it was a lone F. marielinae. IDing that oddball was what drove me to find and reproduce the Farlowella key.

Cheers,
Eric

[pointpleco]

This is most likely F. vittata. When identifying Farlowella it is always best to start with F. vittata as default starting ID as, at least in the U.S., this species represents about 90% of imports. F. vittata are collected in the Colombian llanos in massive numbers for the trade. That said, if my intention was to breed Farlowella, I would try to buy the entire group at one time from the same dealer to have the best chances of getting all one species. I would also check all the scute patterns as a fair percent of any Farlowella import will include the three row species F. mariaelenae. The two spp. are found co-located in the wild and exporters do not separate them out.
-Shane

Hi Shane,

Thanks for the input and i also was leaning towards the vittata if it wasn't the other one. And being that i'm in Australia it's probably similar with what we get imported in.
As for breeding i don't plan to breed these, just got the one for a pet and think the shop only had 2 in there anyway.

Thanks

[pointpleco]

Thanks a lot to Eric, Shane and Jools.

I appreciate your help everytime.
I'm very happy with the outcome and think it is F. Vittata.
There is 2 belly plates each side of a centre dividing line.
Looking at the belly of the F. marielinae i see the big difference in the 3 plates going across.

Thanks Macrae