L121 vs L305

[Charly EON]

Hello

Are L121 and L305 both Peckoltia braueri or are they 2 different species ?

Thanks for the help

[drpleco]

I believe (but may be wrong) that L121, L135, L305, and Peckoltia Braueri are all from different areas and may be the same species, but it isn't certain yet.

[MatsP]

But the Cat-eLog sees them currently as one and the same species.

I expect the only ones hitting the wholesalers would be the ones coming from Brazil, which makes it either L135 or P. braueri proper. Very few fish are exported from Guyana (which is the L121, L305 variants). I believe some rivers in southern guyana connects to Rio Negro, so that would indicate that they are indeed the same basic species (although I haven't looked at a map to figure out if the exact rivers of L121, L305 are such that they flow into Rio Negro).

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Mats

[drpleco]

Well there you go...I told ya I was wrong sometimes. Thanks Mats!

[MatsP]

Well there you go...I told ya I was wrong sometimes. Thanks Mats!

I wouldn't be so convinced at this particular situation. One could possibly argue that until such a time that scientists have definitely said that P. braueri has a distribution that cover both Rio Negro/Branco and Guyana rivers, they should really be treated as separate species. It is after all the scientists that decide what is a species and what isn't (and sometimes they change their view after some further studies too!)

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Mats