Fish classifications

[Citypainter]

What’s the story with all the different names?

Such as Paratheraps synspilum and Vieja Synspilum

Then you have Herichthys pearsei and ex-Cichlasoma pearsei

I look things up on the net and diferent outcomes from these searches but the fish are the same.

Who is correct.

[Citypainter]

What’s the story with all the different names?

Such as Paratheraps synspilum and Vieja Synspilum

Then you have Herichthys pearsei and ex-Cichlasoma pearsei

I look things up on the net and diferent outcomes from these searches but the fish are the same.

Who is correct.

No takers

[Link2Hell]

Hi Dave

you have open up the wonerful can of worms called nomenclature

in this you will find Genera will be changed due to a factor that has

been reviewed as a standard for the listing changing

I long for the return to the simple days when they were just Cichlosoma

the hard part is adjusting to the reviewed genera and it's use in the

hobby .......... it can be confussing

Hope this helps

Chris

[Andrew]

So true, Chris. I started the hobby just as Cichlasoma was being broken up into the (oh so many) new genera. Likewise, remember when everything was haplochromis? haha

Those days are long gone, and to extrapolate on Chris' answer, the taxonomists aren't just changing the names to stay in a job. We are getting to know what forms a genus by shared characteristics of the species within the genus. Some are really obvious, such as all Pterophyllum (angels) belonging together in their own genus, or all Symphysodon (discus), for example. Others though, get into the nitty-gritty of dentition, sensory pits, etc.

All that being said, I think Vieja is the current accepted genus for synspilum, et al.

Cheers,

Andrew.

[Citypainter]

Thanks Andrew and Chris.

I guessed when nobody answered it was a bit of an awkward one.

Are there any sites that kept up to date with names that either of you can refer me too?

I am looking at a lot of American sites researching my latest fish.

Bocourti, Pearsei, Zonatum, Rivulatus, and some other spectacular Americans

And there is lot of conflicting info srating to their names to just about every detail I have read.

It seems as though as there is little fact, lots of fiction which is thrown in with guess work.

My own studies seem to be more accurate than what I have read so far.

But the fish are young and I have still have years of watching them to grow.

[yellow]

http://www.cichlidae.com/forum/viewtopic.php?p=47239

[japes]

www.cichlidae.com is definitely the best source for up to date classifications.

ex-Cichlasoma is the slushpit genera of unclassified species, much like Cichlasoma used to be (however it's used to describe many South American Dwarf/Acaras currently).