Corydoras ID

[mad scientist]

Got this fella from a shipment that came as Corydoras sp. "high fin", which is a pointed snout species. She resembles Corydoras brevirostris greatly but lacking in the heavy punctation one would observe on C. brevirostris. Though there is banding on her caudal fin, it is rather faint, not what one would expect on C. brevirostris. Don't think it is a faded C. brevirostris as the dark mask over the eyes, as well as the "saddle" marking on the dorsal fin is dark and intense.

Looks almost like Corydoras bicolor as well, if not for the banding on the caudal fin.



Here's my C. brevirostris for comparison:

[corynewbie]

I bought a second cory from my lfs yesterday and, according to the sign on the tank, it's a C.punctatus, which is what I believe my first one is (bought at the same lfs a year ago). This new one was very dark in color until I finally released him into the main tank and it (I think it may be a male) had a chance to calm down and get settled. Then the color lightened, so I could again see what it looked like. It looks like the fish you are asking about!

In my searching for an identification, I came across your posting, and was amazed at the fact you were having the same problem with what looks like the same fish! A couple of possibilities I've found are C.armatus (except that one has some spots on the body) and C.virginiae. Have you had any luck identifying it? I'd be very curious to hear what you may have learned!

He seems to be very happy with my C.punctatus,and vice versa, so it doesn't really matter to me, but I'm very curious! I'll let you know if I discover anything!