Along with the spectacular Peckoltia sp. “Alto Nhamunda” (see http://www.aquariumglaser.de/en/news.php#1245) a specimen of Panaqolus reached us, which is very similar to the L-number L374. Very similar is also L403. Both L-numbers most probably represent the same species. One should not forget that a L-number is not given for new species, but for Loricariids exported from a new area. Other, probably conspecific L-numbers are L2 and L169/LDA1.
Both L374 and L403 originate from the Rio Anapu in Brazil. L374 is collected in the upper reaches of that river, L403 in the lower reaches. As the Rio Anapu is divided by waterfalls, which cannot be overcome by fish, it makes sense to distinguish the the two L-numbers in the hobby. On the other hand it is known that the Rio Anapu as it flows today exists only since 6000 years. We tend to forget that everything in nature is in permanent flow and change. It is not known how long it takes for a loricariid develop a new species. So it is possible that all these Panqolus, eg L2 (Rio Tocantins), L169/LDA1 (Rio Negro basin), L374 and L403 (Rio Anapu), and the recently imported fish from the Rio Nhamunda represent the very same biological species, but it is also possible that all these catfish represent different species within one species flock. These questions can be answered only by a scientific study, which is lacking so far.
Text & photos: Frank Schäfer
| Angaben zum Tier | |
|---|---|
| Herkunft | Brasilien / Brazil |
