Please ID new Twigs/Farlowellas - second one: Twig B!
Posted: 19 Apr 2014, 21:13
Right, Twig B is not F. vittata - I know that much!
He is slightly different.
Characteristics:
- Incomplete row of median scutes
- Breeding odontodes are evident at this age (I get the impression he's not yet mature) and he's only about 100-110 mm. His 2nd and 3rd lateral scutes are thickened and form keeled ridges, I think. I know to some extent he is young and his odontodes may never get big, but I can see them without magnification.
So far, that takes me to a choice between F. taphorni and F. curtirostra. However, his body depth is definitely less than his snout-mouth length, which leads me to F. taphorni. Given the pics, does anyone feel that's a bad call? Please let me know, as am trying to get the hang of this ID stuff!
A few more interesting points - he has a deep gold belly, which darkens to a very obvious brown just past his anal fin. He also has an interesting caudal fin pattern and his rostrum is slightly more bulbous than F. vittata.
Finally, his behaviour is very different to any of the other twigs I own. When held, he doesn't struggle, just judders slightly - makes it very difficult to take decent photos!
Any help appreciated, thanks.
He is slightly different.
Characteristics:
- Incomplete row of median scutes
- Breeding odontodes are evident at this age (I get the impression he's not yet mature) and he's only about 100-110 mm. His 2nd and 3rd lateral scutes are thickened and form keeled ridges, I think. I know to some extent he is young and his odontodes may never get big, but I can see them without magnification.
So far, that takes me to a choice between F. taphorni and F. curtirostra. However, his body depth is definitely less than his snout-mouth length, which leads me to F. taphorni. Given the pics, does anyone feel that's a bad call? Please let me know, as am trying to get the hang of this ID stuff!
A few more interesting points - he has a deep gold belly, which darkens to a very obvious brown just past his anal fin. He also has an interesting caudal fin pattern and his rostrum is slightly more bulbous than F. vittata.
Finally, his behaviour is very different to any of the other twigs I own. When held, he doesn't struggle, just judders slightly - makes it very difficult to take decent photos!
Any help appreciated, thanks.