Unknown Doras Opsodoras species (warning! large pix)

sidguppy · Post by **sidguppy** » 08 Apr 2005, 09:41

HH, question for you! (or any other ichthyologist who wants to jump in: welcome): do you have the big Burgess-bible currently with you?
because it is THE fish in the 2 pictures on pag 578, under the large pic of O leporhinus; right side of page; labelled as "Doras sp".

a list of marks:
-stretched build, but not as stretched as O leporhinus/Hassar/Leptodoras.
-scutes are small and vertical, not slim/large/diagonal as in Hassar
-branches on maxillary barbels, but only on the lower side (not double as in O stubeli or D eigenmanni)
-those barbels are longer than Hemidoras paraguayensis, but shorter than Hassar spp
-from above: snout is pointed but not as pointed in Hassar
-HEADprofile from the side is much more streamlined than O leporhinus, with longer snout; BODY profile is much more stubby than O leporhinus
-color is olive/light brown/khaki
-NO dark lines near scutes as in O leporhinus; NO dark wedge on dorsal implant (dorsal spine is a sandy color), only vague dark lines in upperr and lower caudal lobe.
-small dark spots scattered above and below the row of scutes, not many; most on the posterior end of the fish; fewer spots on the fish near head or pectorals.

Fish looks very much like Doras eigenmanni or Opsodoras subeli; except for 2 marks:
-NO upper branches on maxillary barbels
-NO "marbled" color; but very even, except for dark spots

sidguppy · Post by **sidguppy** » 08 Apr 2005, 09:45

And now the pictures:

branched barbles and big eyes. these fish are approx 4cm. In the past I've kept adults of about 8-11cm

overal body- and headshape are different from Trachy/Hemidoras, Hassar or Opsodoras leporhinus

caudal fin shape and size of scutes are visible here, this is NO Hassar!

pectoral girdle and belly view; whiskers are similar in size as pectoral spines -serrated- also scutes on right fish.

Mika · Post by **Mika** » 08 Apr 2005, 10:23

Those seem almost same as these one.
http://www.planetcatfish.com/forum/view ... highlight=

sidguppy · Post by **sidguppy** » 08 Apr 2005, 11:21

you're right; the first pic in the post is a bigger specimen of the same species, I think.

more body, smaller head; as to be expected in a more afdult fish.

apart from that, almost a perfect match.

still it is NO Trachy/Hemidoras, though; these have a much higher bodyshape, flattened sides, very short whiskers and a tail more like a Silverdollar Characin.

Dorad · Post by **Dorad** » 08 Apr 2005, 14:34

Hi,

My initial thoughts are that these are Opsodoras stubeli and certainly resemble the ones that I kept too many years ago now!

sidguppy · Post by **sidguppy** » 08 Apr 2005, 15:15

Opsodoras stubeli has a "double row of branches" on the mandibulars, as said before; this means branches on the lower AND upper side of the biggest whisker, making it look like a feather!

these only have the lower branches, making it look like a comb.