Some new loach pics

[Frank M. Greco]

Hi folks. Just got a shipment, and am having a problem with identifications (what else is new?).
These came in with some chenies:



This came in as a gecko catfish. Confuzona, perhaps?



These came in as a green loach, with the scientific name of H. tweediei:






These came in as H. tweediei (supposedly different from the green loach, but most likely not. Top fish is slender and lower fish is fatter):





This came in as H. hoffmani:

[Jim Powers]

The top fish looks like Linaparhomaloptera disparis disparis.
The second fish looks like H. confuzona
The third looks like Homaloptera smithi
The fourth looks like Homaloptera tweediei. Smithi and tweediei are very similar. The pectoral and pelvic fins of smithi slightly overlap, on tweediei they don't quite overlap.
The last pic looks like it might be Vanmanenia hiananensis.
Check out the new species index for more pics of each species.
Let us know what you think after checking them out.

[Frank M. Greco]

Jim, thanks. I'll check out the pics here.

[Martin Thoene]

These came in with some chenies:



The picture's a bit small Frank. Either Liniparhomaloptera disparis, Glaniopsis multiradiata, or Vanmanenia hainanensis.
This came in as a gecko catfish. Confuzona, perhaps?



Yes, Homaloptera confuzona.

These came in as a green loach, with the scientific name of H. tweediei:


Again, not easy to see details with these, but it appears that the pecs and pelvics are separated, so likely to be H. tweediei. If not, then H. smithi



These came in as H. tweediei (supposedly different from the green loach, but most likely not. Top fish is slender and lower fish is fatter):





Could be H.tweedie, or H. stephensoni Lower fish probably female.

This came in as H. hoffmani:



Where did they come from? H. hoffmani might be good if from HongKong.

Martin.

[mikev]

H.Hoffmani is nearly certainly Vanmanenia, this has happened before.
No reasons to think it is specifically hainanensis, there are twelve species.(the picture looks like a big fat Vanmanenia)
Given that Chenis are from the same supplier, very good chances that the Cheni contaminant is also Vanmanenia.

[Frank M. Greco]

The picture's a bit small Frank. Either Liniparhomaloptera disparis, Glaniopsis multiradiata, or Vanmanenia hainanensis.

Here's a larger pic:

Where did they come from? H. hoffmani might be good if from HongKong.

Yes, from Hong Kong.

[Martin Thoene]

Probably easiest for you Frank to look at the fish and compare to these:

http://forums.loaches.com/viewtopic.php?t=3040

http://forums.loaches.com/viewtopic.php?t=3212

http://forums.loaches.com/viewtopic.php?t=2932

Martin.

[Jim Powers]

They look like disparis, except for the white belly.

and then there is this: Vanmanenia pingchowensis
This looks like the "H. hoffmani" in your pics.

[mikev]

They look like disparis, except for the white belly.

This is very interesting at least one clear way to distinguish the species.

What really would be nice is a small ID'ng guide like you did for the Othros and Tigers....

[Jim Powers]

The problem with that is, none of us has had a good enough look at all these species inorder to compare them.

[mikev]

And neither did the people who originally described them.... which may mean that they are still all the same species.

Anyway, I really don't think that hainanensis is even an option to consider. It is somewhat similar:



but it is a Hainan-specific species. The Beaufortia argument applies. And, on top, I've seen Cheni contaminants in Vannie shipment.

More likely are Vanmanenia pingchowensis or Vanmanenia xinyiensis .

---

A geographical argument also make H. Stephensoni less likely (Indonesia, not Thailand.)

[Jim Powers]

Jim Powers wrote:
They look like disparis, except for the white belly.

mikev wrote:
This is very interesting at least one clear way to distinguish the species.

Don't forget, there are also subspecies of L. disparis and other Liniparhomalopteras that might fit the bill (and have a white belly).

[Graeme Robson]

Nice loaches there Frank!!

[mikev]

Jim Powers wrote:
They look like disparis, except for the white belly.

mikev wrote:
This is very interesting at least one clear way to distinguish the species.

Don't forget, there are also subspecies of L. disparis and other Liniparhomalopteras that might fit the bill (and have a white belly).

Yes, unfortunately, and specifically Liniparhomaloptera obtusirostris.

[Jim Powers]

By the way, anyone have that link to the Chinese fish book? I forgot to bookmark it.