Orthogoniata Complex of Homaloptera - ID by Scale Keels

[Martin Thoene]

Due to the complexity of markings in these species, where no two fish are exactly the same, it can be very difficult to correctly identify the species.

For the aquarist, one of the few ways this can be done is by digitally photographing the fish's scales in the area under the Dorsal fin leading edge, and enlarging the photograph to show detail.

As a guide, here are drawings of the scale keel shapes for four species.



Caption: Orthogoniata Complex Scale Keels
Credit: Martin Thoene (1st photo,design, drawing)
Credit: Mark Macdonald
Credit: Bob Darnell
Credit: Emma Turner

[Jim Powers]

Great info!!

[Martin Thoene]

D'you like my digital ortho at the top? Stupid thing is I think now that somewhere I've got a side on shot

Martin.

[Graeme Robson]

Very handy and helpful.

Great work!

[shari2]

bump

[Jim Powers]

Great digital ortho!!
I have seen a shot of your fish from the side, somewhere.

[Martin Thoene]

Found it! Edited it into the picture. Would you believe all the foreground pebbles are cloned in? It was a long skinny pic before.

Martin.

[Martin Thoene]

That's because Martin suddenly saw that he'd left out a 'p' in one Homaloptera so I deleted the picture, re-edited and uploaded it

Martin.

[Jim Powers]

Great job!
I miss the digital Ortho, though.

[Jim Powers]

I thought I was having conection problems or something.

I guess no one is going to know what we were talking about since I had deleted the message saying I didn't see a pic about the time you were posting the above message.

[Martin Thoene]

Ahhhhhhhhhh..............



Bumped this up Shari. Only way to keep these up is as Announcements.

Martin.