scleromystax Confusion

Beersnob · Post by **Beersnob** » 01 Jan 2005, 17:38

It's been a hectic 4 months for me, and I was really confused to see that Corydoras Barbatus is now Scleromystax Barbatus. Can anyone shed some light on this for me? I'm not sure what the differences bewteen Aspidoras, Brochis, Corydoras, and Scleromystax are?

Thanks,

Bewildered and Confused,

Scott

Post by **Silurus** » 01 Jan 2005, 17:53

Scleromystax is diagnosed by a suite of osteological characters, which includes odontodes on preopercular-opercular region of males. They also have more elongate snouts and a conspicuous coloration pattern characterized by small striated blotches all over dorsum and sides of head (less conspicuous in S. prionotos).

Post by **corybreed** » 01 Jan 2005, 18:08

As you know a new Genus, Scleromystax was created in 2004. Scleromystax consists of the following seven species; barbatus, prionotus, macropterus, lacerdai, kronei, C112 and C113. You can clearly see that Scleromystax and Corydoras have different body shapes. There has been no changes to Aspidoras or Brochis. I have heard that Brochis might move into the Corydoras Genus. HH or Ian might have more information on that.

Mark

Post by **Coryman** » 03 Jan 2005, 16:06

Actually Mark it goes back to the 19th Century. [ScleromystaxGÃ¼nther, 1864 [Callichthys Scopoli, 1777; type species, by original monotypy: Callichthys barbatus]. IsbrÃ¼cker in [Fuller, 2001]

Etymology, [i[Scleromystax[/i] Gr. skleros, tough, hard, Gr. mystax the hair upon the upper lip.

In three species S. lacerdai; S. prionotus and C113 odontodes on the cheeks are either none existent or indistinguishable with the naked eye.

Ian