Results for “spot”

It can be distinguished from other members of the genus by the following characters: lateral line absent or perforating only 2-5 scales; pharyngeal teeth hooked; body size small, not exceeding 30 mm SL; body depth less than 25 % SL; colour pattern comprising a dark bluish lateral stripe extending from the eye to the caudal peduncle, typically, but not always, forming 2-5 circular spots along its length.

This species is not traded often but may occasionally be exported as bycatch among shipments of other species. It can be distinguished from congeners by the following combination of characters: presence of large, exposed scales on top of head; dorsal-fin origin posterior to pelvic-fin origin; moderate to small size (to 29 mm SL); caudal-fin emarginate and with dark reticulations; caudal-fin lobes with dark, elongated spots along upper and lower edges.

This species is not traded often but is occasionally available as bycatch among shipments of other species. It can be told apart from congeners most easily by the prominent, dorsally-orientated, roughly semi-circular lamina circularis in males, a feature unique within the genus. Other distinguishing characters include a combination of: forked caudal-fin; relatively small adult size; dark <-shaped mark at the base of the caudal-fin; a black spot at the base of branched caudal-fin rays 3-5.

This is one of the most frequently-traded members of the group and is an excellent choice for those new to keeping loaches. It's distinguishable from congeners by a combination of characters including: rounded/truncate caudal-fin; a scaleless patch on top of the head; relatively large adult size; flanks with spotted patterning in females and a solid...

This species is available sporadically and makes an excellent choice for those new to keeping loaches. It's distinguishable from congeners by a combination of characters including: truncate/rounded caudal-fin; no scales on top of head; dark, squarish spots o...

Should be kept in a set-up designed to resemble a flowing stream with a substrate of variably-sized rocks, gravel and some water-worn boulders. This can be further furnished with driftwood roots and branches arranged to form some shaded spots while lengths of PVC piping or similar can be used to provide additional cover. Although most plant species will fail to thrive in such surroundings hardy genera such as Microsorum, Bolbitis or Anubias spp. can be grown attached to the décor and bright lighting will promote the growth of aufwuchs.

L. bleekeri is most-easily distinguished from the congener L. setigerum, with which it is frequently confused, by absence (vs. presence) of a series of black spots on the lateral line scales.

There is a fish of unknown geographical origin which matches the majority of diagnostic features for L. setigerum with the exception that the dark lateral stripe is absent in the anterior portion of the body and is not composed of interconnected spots. It is relatively common in the aquarium trade and included here as L. cf. setigerum until a confirmed identity is established.

M. ocellatus can be distinguished from congeners by the following combination of characters: caudal-fin rounded; eye stripe not connecting spot on posterior projection of opercle with eye; dorsal-fin rays filamentous posterior to a vertical through the posterior anal-fin rays in adults; 16-19 spinous dorsal-fin rays; 6-13 rakers on ceratobranchial of first gill arch; posterior tip or margin of body scales not darker than scales.

This species is also referred to as 'Kretser's paradisefish' and 'spotted gourami'. There exist three colour forms, two of which exhibit a greater degree of reddish or violet pigmentation in the fins, respectively. The third is more bluish and was described as M. kretseri minor by Deraniyagala (1958).

The tyre track eel is also referred to as the white-spotted spiny eel. A member of the spiny eel family, which range across tropical Asia and Africa, Mastacembelus armatus is one of the more common species available to the hobby, along with the peacock eel ((Macrognathus siamensis)and the fire eel (Mastacembelus erythrotaenia). These species are all from Asia but there are some members of the family from Africa that are occasionally seen for sale. These majority of these species are from the ...

Also known as the Murray River or crimson-spotted rainbowfish, this species is not as common in the hobby as some of its relatives, but can still be found from time to time. It is easily confused with the very similar M. duboulayi, indeed these two were once grouped together as a single species. However, there are clear differences in patterning, fin ray counts and the way in which their eggs and fry develop. The range of M. fluviatilis extends further south than any other rainbowfish, and a...

It's unclear if this species has ever been exported for the aquarium hobby outside of India but there may be a chance of finding the occasional specimen mixed in with shipments of M. guentheri or M. triangularis. It was earlier considered synonymous and may still be confused with M. guentheri since both species share similar body patterning consisting of rows of yellowish, dark-edged spots.

All Mystacoleucus species possess a procumbent predorsal spine orientated towards the head, though it can be difficult to spot with the naked eye. This can become entangled in an aquarium net so care must be taken when handling the fish. The trait is shared by members of Tor, Spinibarbus and Paraspinibarbus although there exists no strong evidence to suggest that these genera form a monophyletic lineage and it is...

This is the smallest member of the genus and rarely traded in numbers, though it's a relatively common contaminant among shipments of wild fishes from Manaus. Unlike other Nannostomus spp. it does not exhibit a specific colour pattern of spots or bars at night-time, rather displaying an overall paleness. The family Lebiasinidae is included in the order Characiformes and sometimes split into the nominal subfamilies Lebiasininae a...

This species is rarely imported. It is easily confused with N. parilus but can be distinguished by the fact that male fish lack the barring seen in the upper part of the of parilus and have dark edges to the scales on the body. Females can be distinguished by the spotting in the lower part of the caudal, which is unpatterned in parilus. We do not recommend this species to the beginner due to its very specific water and care requirements....

N. parilus is one of the commoner Nanochromis in the hobby as it is more easily collected from its natural waters than most species. It is easily confused with the less often seen N. nudiceps but can be distinguished by the fact that male fish exhibit a barred patterning inn the upper half of the which is not present in nudiceps. Females can be distinguished by the unpatterned lower part of the caudal, which is spotted in nudiceps. There are a couple of geographical variants available. We do ...

N. binotatus is distinguished from similar-looking congeners such as N. longistriatus and N. ornatus by its unique body patterning consisting very simply of two dark stripes, one running along the dorsal surface and the other from the tip of the snout, through the eye and along the flank. There are usually 1-3 small, vertically-orientated spots extending above the lateral stripe between the pectoral-fin and dorsal fins. These are su...

This species was originally named Nemacheilus masyae but following ICZN rules the spelling was later corrected to N. masyai because it's named after a man. It can be distinguished from the majority of congeners by body patterning comprising 14-18 short, dark vertical bars on each flank, 12-17 saddle-like markings running along the dorsal surface, a dark spot on the caudal peduncle at the termination of the lateral line and a dark blotch in the lower half of the first few dorsal-fin rays.

N. fasciatus is a predator by nature and its body shape has been adapted to allow it to enter small crevices and gaps in the rockwork of Lake Tanganyika to prey on invertebrates, eggs, fry and small fish. The lateral compression exhibited by this fish also makes the fish hard to spot head on, giving it an advantage over both its predators and prey. It hunts in a head down position a few feet above the substrate, moving its body in sinuous motions to counteract the water currents. It is sometimes...