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The body of this fish appears "stumpy" - any info on it? where it came from , size, age etc

Ian, Frank, Kim etc will have to give an opinion from someone who is expert on Corys on this although i have some thoughts.

Looks like a funny shaped venezuelanus....

...or funny shaped concolor?
-Shane

Aren't both C. venezuelansis and C. concolor round noses species, this one looks more pointy nosed. But I agree the shape is either badly distorted from some effect of optics/photo editing, or the fish is some sort of "balloon" deformity.

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Mats

I got several fish with deformities like this with my Brochis splendens juveniles, I think due to them not getting enough food at key points during their development/growth. I'd suggest it's not a deliberate "balloon" deformity (but the effect is the same I suppose).

Either way, there is something wrong there, but it got the marking of venezuelanus. C concolor is almost "black" in color.

C concolor is almost "black" in color.

Depends actually on where you collect them. C. venezuelanus tends to "bleed" into C. concolor as you go south. By the time you get to parts of Guarico State you are not always sure which is which on collection. The color differences only sort out after some time under aquarium conditions and C. venezuelanus "black" stays that color even in captivity. I am not saying they are the same sp., but it would take some serious studies to figure out the exact line of demarcation between the two.
-Shane

I'd agree it looks like venezuelanus more than concolor, but wouldn't presume to be too confident as there are much better cory identifiers on here than me. I don't have too much confidence in the snout shape either due to the body truncation- I've seen a lot of strange-shaped noses on tank-bred fish at fish auctions, and as this fish is already "squashed" it's head may be deformed as well.

Sorry to the original poster- I'm not trying to beat up on your fish.

Deformed C. venezuelanus, I'm shure.

Shane wrote:

C concolor is almost "black" in color.

Depends actually on where you collect them. C. venezuelanus tends to "bleed" into C. concolor as you go south. By the time you get to parts of Guarico State you are not always sure which is which on collection. The color differences only sort out after some time under aquarium conditions and C. venezuelanus "black" stays that color even in captivity. I am not saying they are the same sp., but it would take some serious studies to figure out the exact line of demarcation between the two.
-Shane

C concolor is a much "heavier built" cory than venezuelanus? But reg color, I agree.

Genetically, concolor and venezualanus are quite distantly related. I checked the relationship on the Cory 'family tree' presented at last years Catfish Study Group convention. Concolor rest in a group alongside metae, axelrodi, melini and CW021. Venezuelanus are very close genetically to the Trinidadian aeneus.

There will be a presentation from the authors of the Cory tree at this years CSG convention.

As to the balloon cory, looks like an aeneus with a spinal deformity to me.

Cheers,
Mark.

kim m wrote:Deformed C. venezuelanus, I'm shure.

Agree Kim. As I said.....

Genetically, concolor and venezualanus are quite distantly related.

I am sure you are correct here, but it offers a great example of convergent evolution.

@Birger, looking again I agree the above fish is closer to venezuelanus than concolor.

-Shane

I found this pic posted on another forum. It was posted in August of last year. On that forum somebody guessed it to be C. venezuelenus but there was no explanation for that belief by the identifier.
The person that purchased the fish said this:

I found this cory among a group of C.aeneus in Qian Hu fish shop.

kim m wrote:Deformed C. venezuelanus, I'm shure.

I agree. I have kept both venezuelanus and concolor, and shape of the fins and the rather abrupt transition from red to black say venezuelanus, imo. This one looks sesriously overfed.

MatsP wrote:Aren't both C. venezuelansis and C. concolor round noses species, this one looks more pointy nosed. But I agree the shape is either badly distorted from some effect of optics/photo editing, or the fish is some sort of "balloon" deformity.

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Mats

Mats, i can confirmed the shape of this fish is not distorted in anyway by photo editings or optics effect. As quoted previously,this cory was found in a group of C.aeneus in the shop fish tank.( most likely wild caught due to the huge size)
I am also in view that this is likely a deformed shape C.venezeulanus.
Mark
Some recent pics.