A List of Names Used For Apistogramma Species

Mike Wise

Tech. Ed., ASG

Recently the genus Apistogramma has seen an explosion of "forms" entering the hobby. I use the term "forms" because many of these new apistos are probably just variant geographic populations of previously known scientifically described and undescribed species. Without serious taxonomic study these forms must remain "questionable species". For now, deciding whether or not to call these forms true species depends on a person's preference to "lump" or "split". The ASG prefers to err on the side of caution and split these populations into separate "forms". This is to prevent unknowingly crossbreeding two closely related forms that may eventually be found to be two valid species. We can always breed two populations together at a later time after they are found to be a single valid species, but once you crossbreed two different species together you cannot "un-cross" the hybrids.

Another problem has arisen with the increase in forms. This is the multiplicity of names given to a single form by several different suppliers. The following list was made to alleviate some of the confusion and help you recognize a species/form listed under a different name. The bold names are my preferred names for what I feel are valid forms. They are my personal preferences. They may not be the best known names for the fish in question. I chose my preferred names based on the name that most accurately describes the fish. Forms with known collecting data take preference over names that describe the physical features of a species. In forms without collecting data, names describing special features are preferred over name dedicated to a collector or hobbyist.

I realize that this list will change as more new apistos, and data on previously known species, are made available. I only hope it removes some of the confusion that comes with all of the names that are continually appearing in the hobby. I will be happy to correspond with anyone with questions on my identifications. I will always be interested in learning of new names. You can contact me at apistowise@bewellnet.com.

Species Name

Other Names

A. sp. 2000-1(Panduro) See: A. sp. Tahuayo

A. aequipinnis See: A. borellii

A. agassizii

A. cf. agassizii Alenquer

A. cf. agassizii Gold-line See: A. cf. agassizii Tocantins

A. cf. agassizii Madeira

A. cf. agassizii Pastel/Rio Tapiche

A. cf. agassizii Porto Velho See: A. cf. agassizii Madeira

A. cf. agassizii Purus

A. cf. agassizii Tapajós

A. cf. agassizii Tocantins

A. cf. agassizii Trombetas

A. cf. agassizii Tucuruí See: A. cf. agassizii Tocantins

A. sp. Albertini

A. sp. Alenquer See: A. cf. taeniata Alenquer
A. sp. Algodon I See: A. sp. Papagei/Parrot
A. sp. Algodon II See: A. sp. Putumayo
A. sp. Alto Negro See: A. sp. São Gabriel

A. sp. Amapá

A. sp. Amapá Bitter I "96"

A. sp. Amapá Bitter II "96" See: A. sp. Amapá Bitter I "96"
A. sp. Amapá CA 96 See: A. sp. Amapá Bitter I "96"
A. sp. Amapá Guttata See: A. sp. Vielfleck/Multi-spot
A. ambloplitoides See: Acaronia nassa

A. amoena

A. sp. Ampiyacu See: A. sp. Pebas
A. sp. Apache See: A. sp. Masken/Masked

A. sp. Araguaia (Red-face)

A. sp. Arica See: A. uaupesi

A. arua

A. sp. AruanaA See: A. sp. Araguaia (Red-face)

A. atahualpa

A. sp. Azur See: A. panduro

A. sp. Balzfleck/Courting-spot

A. sp. Bigmouth (ASG-19) See: A. cacatuoides

A. bitaeniata

A. cf. bitaeniata Lago Januari

A. cf. bitaeniata Porto Velho

A. cf. bitaeniata Tefé

A. sp. aff. bitaeniata (Koslowski)

A. sp. Bitter See: A. cf. regani Belem
A. sp. Blackstripe (ASG-23) ? Insufficient information
A. sp. Blauglanz/Blue-sheen See: A. cf. taeniata Blauglanz/Bluesheen

A. sp. Blaukopf/Blue-head

A. sp. Blauspiegel/Blue-spangle See: A. cf. pulchra Xingu
A. sp. Blue & Red See: A. sp. Blaukopf/Blue-head
A. sp. Blue & Red See: A. inconspicua
A. sp. Blue & Yellow (ASG-13) ? Insufficient information
A. sp. Blue-cheek (ASG-20) See: A. sp. Rotpunkt

A. sp. Blue-orange (ASG-25)

= A. sp. Rotpunkt?
A. sp. Blue-sky See: A. panduro

A. sp. Blutkehl/Cutthroat

A. sp. Breitbinden/Broad-banded

A. cf. sp. Breitbinden São Gabriel

A. borellii

Valid species; also used for A. cacatuoides

A. brevis

A. cf. brevis

A. sp. Bronze (ASG-15) ? Insufficient information
A. sp. Brustband/Breast-band See: A. sp. Maulbrüter/Mouthbrooder

A. cacatuoides

A. cf. cacatuoides Juruá

A. cf. cacatuoides Manacapuru

A. cf. cacatuoides Putumayo

A. caetei

A. cf. caetei Capim =A. sp. Rotwangen?

A. cf. caetei Guamá

A. cf. caetei Marajó

A. sp. Caño Morrocoy See: A. sp. Breitbinden/Broad-banded
A. sp. Canoga Park (ASG-5) See: A. macmasteri

A. sp. Caquetá 1

A. sp. Caquetá 2

A. sp. Carapintada See: A. sp. Masken (part) & Winkelfleck (Orosa) (part)

A. sp. Caura

A. sp. Chao (93-107)

A. commbae See: A. commbrae

A. commbrae

A. sp. Copper (ASG-16) =A. sp. Winkelfleck??
A. corumbae See: A. commbrae
A. sp. Crixas

A. cruzi

A. cf. cruzi (Aqua-log News)
See: A. cf. eunotus (Römer)

A. diplotaenia

A. sp. Dolly =A. sp. Morado/Purple?
A. sp. Doppelband/Double-band See: A. diplotaenia

A. sp. Doppelfleck/Double-spot

A. elizabethae

A. cf. elizabethae

= A. elizabethae w/damaged dorsal?

A. sp. Erdfresser/Earth-eater

A. eunotus

A. cf. eunotus (Chang)

A. cf. eunotus Orangeschwanz/Orange-tail

A. cf. eunotus (Römer)

A. cf. eunotus Santa Ana

A. cf. eunotus Shahuaya

A. cf. eunotus Spitzkopf/Pointed-head

A. sp. aff. eunotus (Koslowski)

A. fasciata See: A. borellii (nomen nudem)
A. sp. Felsen/Rock See: A. uaupesi
A. sp. Flame See: A. macmasteri
A. sp. Gabelband = A. paucisquamis?
A. sp. Galaxis (Galaxy & Galaxia) See: A. sp. papgei

A. geisleri

A. cf. geisleri Parintins

A. cf. geisleri Smaragd/Emerald

A. sp. aff. geisleri (Glaser) = A. taeniata?
A. sp. Gelbrust/Yellow Breast See: A. linkei

A. sp. Gelbwangen/Yellow-cheeks

A. gephyra

A. cf. gephyra Branco

A. cf. gephyra Curua

A. sp. Giant Yellow (ASG-6) See: A. macmasteri

A. gibbiceps

A. sp. Glanzbinden/Shiny-banded See: A. paucisquamis
A. sp. Glaser (Graser or Glazer) See: A. sp. Maulbrüter
A. sp. Goias Redtail See: A. sp. Juruá

A. gossei

A. sp. Großmaul/Big-mouth See: A. norberti
A. sp. Guamá See: A. cf. caetei Guamá

A. guttata

A. hippolytae

A. sp. Hochflossen/High-finned =A. guttata?

A. hoignei

A. hongsloi

A. cf. hoignei

A. cf. hongsloi Gold

=A. hongsloi (Rio Cataniapo)?
A. cf. hongsloi Venezuela See: A. cf. hongsloi Venezuela 1

A. cf. hongsloi Venezuela 1

A. cf. hongsloi Venezuela 2

A. sp. Içana

A. sp. Igarapé Acu =A. sp. Maulbrüter?
A. sp. Igarapé Ira See: A. meinkeni

A. inconspicua

A. iniridae

A. sp. Jabuti

A. sp. Jaru

A. sp. Juruá

A. sp. Juruá Emerald See: A. sp. Maulbrüter

A. juruensis

A. cf. juruensis Schwarzkinn/Black-chin

A. sp. aff. juruensis See: A. cf. juruensis Schwarzkinn/Black-chin
A. klausewitzi See: A. bitaeniata
A. kleei See: A. bitaeniata

A. sp. Kolumbien/Colombian

A. sp. Lagua Abunã See: A. cf. resticulosa Abunã
A. sp. Langsstreifen/Long-striped See: A. mendezi

A. linkei

A. cf. linkei (Guggenbühl)

A. sp. Lower Arapiuns See: A. cf. meinkeni

A. luelingi

A. sp. Lyretail "Panduro"

A. sp. Lyretail Purus See: A. sp. Erdfresser

A. sp. Macapá

A. maciliensis

A. macmasteri

A. cf. macmasteri

A. sp. Malome See: A. cf. resticulosa Mamoré Blue

A. sp. (Rio) Mamoré

A. sp. Maniapuré

A. sp. Mariae

A. sp. Masken/Masked

A. cf. sp. Masken (Juruá)

A. meinkeni

A. cf. meinkeni

A. cf. meinkeni Pimental

A. mendezi

A. sp. Meteor (ASG-4) See: A. macmasteri
A. sp. Minima See: A. sp. Weißsaum/White-rimmed

A. sp. Mitú

A. sp. Miua

A. moae

A. cf. moae

A. sp. Montanita

A. sp. Morado/Purple

=Color variant of A. sp. Papagei/Parrot?

A. sp. Nanay (Melgar)

=A. sp. Orangestreifen/Orange-stripes?
A. sp. Nanay (in Römer, 1999) See: A. sp. Papagei/Parrot
A. sp. New Blue See: A. sp. Blaukopf/Blue-head

A. nijsseni

A. norberti

A. sp. Obidos =A. cf. taeniata Alenquer?
A. sp. Opal/Opalita See: A. borellii
A. sp. Orange (ASG-18) =A. eunotus??
A. sp. Orange Cheek (ASG-12) ? Insufficient information

A. sp. Orangeflossen/Orange-fins

A. sp. Orangesaum/Orange-rimmed

A. sp. Orangeschwanz/Orange-tail See: A. cf. eunotus Orangeschwanz/Orange-tail

A. sp. Orangestreifen/Orange-stripes

=A. sp. Nanay (Melgar)?
A. ornatipinnis or Ornate (ASG-10) See: A. steindachneri

A. ortmanni

also used for A. steindachneri

A. cf. ortmanni Cuyuni/Tumeremo

A. sp. Paje See: A. sp. Parati
A. sp. Pandurini See: A. panduro

A. panduro

A. sp. Papagei/Parrot

A. sp. Paraguay

A. sp. Paraguay I See: A. sp. Paraguay

A. sp. Paraguay II

A. sp. Paraguay III

A. sp. Parallelstreifen/Parallelstriped See: A. cruzi
A. sp. Parallelstreifen (in Linke & Staeck) See: A. sp. Putumayo

A. sp. Parati

A. sp. Paru

A. parva

= A. agassizii?

A. paucisquamis

A. payaminonis

A. sp. aff. payaminonis

See: A. atahualpa

A. sp. Pebas

A. sp. Peixoto

A. personata

A. cf. personata Mitú

A. pertense bitaeniata See: A. bitaeniata

A. pertensis

A. cf. pertensis (Glaser)

A. cf. pertensis Upper Negro Lancetail

A. sp. affin pertensis See: A. cf. meinkeni
A. sp. Peru (Glaser) See: A. sp. Masken

A. sp. Peru (Koslowski)

A. sp. Peru Lyretail See: A. sp. Lyretail "Panduro"
A. sp. Piacoa See: A. sp. Maniapuré

A. piauiensis

A. sp. Pimental See: A. cf. meinkeni Pimental
A. sp. Pineapple See: A. sp. Vielfleck/Multi-spot
A. pleurostigma See: A. steindachneri

A. pleurotaenia

A. sp. "Prima Vera" See: A. sp. Wangenflecken; also used for caetei-form
A. sp. Pucallpa See: A. sp. Schwarzkinn/Black-chin
A. sp. Puerto Ayacucho See: A. sp. Breitbinden

A. sp. Puerto Nariño

A. pulchra

A. sp. aff. pulchra Abacaxis

A. cf. pulchra Branco

A. cf. pulchra (Glaser) See: A. cf. agassizii Madeira

A. sp. aff. pulchra Xingu

A. sp. Putumayo

A. sp. Putzer/Cleaner

A. sp. Querstreifen/Vertical-striped See: A. staecki

A. ramirezi

See: Mikrogeophagus ramirezi
A. sp. Red & Blue (ASG-21) See: A. macmasteri
A. sp. Red & Brown (ASG-22) =A. eunoutus??
A. sp. Red & Yellow (ASG-4) See: A. macmasteri
A. sp. Red Cruzi See: A. cf. eunotus (Römer)
A. sp. Red-face See: A. sp. Maulbrüter
A. sp. Red-fin Rio Xingu See: A. cf. pulchra Xingu
A. sp. Red-point I See: A. sp. Caquetá 1
A. sp. Red-point II See: A. sp. Caquetá 2
A. sp. Redspot (ASG-11) See: A. cf. hongsloi Rotstrich/Red-streak
A. sp. Red-tail Rio Xingu See: A. cf. pulchra Xingu

A. regani

A. cf. regani Belem =A. sp. Amapá from Rio Cunani in Koslowski 1994?

A. cf. regani Belem (Bitter)

A. cf. regani Trombetas

A. reitzigi See: A. borellii

A. resticulosa

A. resticulosa VELHO See: A. cf. resticulosa Porto Velho

A. cf. resticulosa Abunã

A. cf. resticulosa Aripuana

A. cf. resticulosa Humaita

A. cf. resticulosa Mamoré Blue

A. cf. resticulosa Porto Velho

A. sp. Rio Acre

A. sp. Rio Araguaia See A. sp. Araguaia (Red-face)

A. sp. Rio Beni

A. sp. Rio Branco See: A. sp. Rio Acre

A. sp. Rio Candeias

A. sp. Rio Caura See: A. sp. Caura
A. sp. Rio Guaporé =A. staecki?
A. sp. Rio Jaru See: A. Jaru
A. sp. Rio Mabó See: A. sp. Miua
A. sp. Rio Maniapure See: A. sp. Maniapure
A. sp. Rio Miua See: A. sp. Miua
A. sp. Rio Peixoto-Azevedo See: A. sp. Peixoto

A. sp. Rio Preto do Candeias

A. sp. Rio Uambé See: A. sp. Miua
A. sp. Rio Vaupés See: A. sp. Mitú
A. sp. Rio Xingu (Chao 93-107) See: A. sp. Chao
A. sp. Rio Xingu (Stawikowski) See: A. sp. Xingu (Red Lobes)
A. ritense See: A. borellii
A. sp. Rondonia See: A. sp. Rondonia
A. rondoni See: A. borellii

A. roraimae

=A. gibbiceps??
A. sp. Rotflecken/Red-spots Schwarzkehl/Black-throat See: A. sp. Schwarzkehl (Rotflecken)
A. sp. Rotkeil/Red-wedge See: A. uaupesi
A. sp. Rotpunkt/Red-spot
A. sp. Rotpunkt/Red-spot I See: A. sp. Caquetá I
A. sp. Rotpunkt/Red-spot II See: A. sp. Caquetá II

A. sp. cf. Rotpunkt (multispotted)

A. sp. Rotsaum/Red-rimmed See: A. viejita

A. sp. Rotstreifen/Red-stripes

A. sp. Rotstrich/Red-streak =A. hongsloi?

A. sp. Rotwangen/Red-cheeks

A. sp. Rummy Nose (ASG-7) =A. eunotus???

A. rupununi

A. cf. rupununi (Anauá, Brazil)

A. cf. rupununi (Rio Siapa, Venezuela)

A. sp. Rußkopf/Sooty-head See: A. elizabethae
A. sp. Rusty (ASG-9) See: A. pertensis
A. sp. Santarém See: A. cf. meinkeni

A. sp. São Gabriel

A. sp. São Gabriel Lyretail See: A. sp. Putzer/Cleaner

A. sp. Schuppenfleck/Scale-spot

A. sp. Schwarzkehl/Black-throat

A. sp. Schwarzkehl (Rotflecken/Red-flecks) Color variant of A. sp. Schwarzkehl/Black-throat
A. sp. Schwarzkinn/Black-chin See: A. cf. juruensis Schwarzkinn/Black-chin
A. sp. Schwarzsaum/Black-rimmed See: A. sp. Rotpunkt
A. sp. Scissortail (ASG-8) See: A. gibbiceps

A. sp. Segelflossen/Sail-fin

A. sp. Side-striped (ASG-26) See: A. commbrae
A. sp. Spotted Scissortail (ASG-24) ? Insufficient information

A. staecki

A. cf. staecki Guaporé

A. sp. Steel Blue See: A. sp. Blaukopf/Blue-head

A. steindachneri

A. sp. Sunset See: A. atahualpa
A. sp. Sunset Norberti See: A. atahualpa
A. sweglesi See: A. bitaeniata
A. sp. T-Bar See: A. (Apistogrammoides) pucallpaensis

A. taeniata

A. cf. taeniata Alenquer

A. cf. taeniata Arapiuns

A. cf. taeniata Blauglanz/Blue-Sheen

A. cf. taeniata Curuá

A. cf. taeniata Curuá-Una

A. cf. taeniata Lower Tapajos

A. cf. taeniata (Mayland)

A. cf. taeniata Trombetas

A. cf. taeniatum longirostris Nomen nudem

A. sp. Tahuayo (Melgar)

A. sp. Tahuayo (Römer) See A. sp. Papgei

A. sp. Tamara

A. sp. Tamé

A. sp. Tefé

A. sp. Tefé I

See: A. sp. Tefé

A. sp. Tefé II

See: A. sp. Tefé

A. sp. Tiquié

A. sp. Tiquié I

See: A. sp. Tiquié

A. trifasciata

A. trifasciata herald schultzi

See: A. maciliensis

A. trifasciata maciliensis

See: A. maciliensis

A. trifasciata Guaporé

= A. maciliensis?

A. sp. Tucuruí

A. sp. Tucruí Yellow-head

A. uapesi

A. sp. Upper Trombetas

A. urteagai

A. sp. Venezuela

A. sp. Vielfleck/Multi-Spot

A. sp. Vierstreifen/ four stripes

A. viejita

A. viejita Color form I

See: A. viejita

A. viejita Color form III

See: Schwarzkehl/Black-throat (Rotflecken)

A. viejita Color form IIII

See: Schwarzkehl/Black-throat

A. sp. Wangenflecken/ Cheek Stripes

A. weisi See. A. (Taeniacara) candidi
A. wiesi or weisei see: A. sp. Rotpunkt/Red spot

A. sp. Weißsaum/ White-rimmed

A.wickleri See: A. steindachneri
A. sp. Wilhelmi See: A. cf. pulchar abacaxis
A. sp. Windisch See: A. cf. sp. Breitbinden/Broadbanded

A. sp. Winkelfleck/Angel-spot (Nauta)

A. sp. Winkelfleck/Angel-spot (Orosa)

A. sp. cf. Winkelfleck/Angel-spot

A. sp. Xingu 3 See: A. sp. Parati

A. sp. Xingu (Red Lobes)

A. sp. Zweifleck See: A. rupunini
A. sp. Zweipunkt/Two spot see: A. hippolytae

New Species Not yet Examined

A. agassizii Gato
A. sp. Dotterel
A. sp. Larrini
A. sp. Paner
A. sp. Paraca
A. steindachneri Venezuela
A. sp. Willy
Oother neo tropical species

Apistogrammoides pucallpaensis

Taeniacara candidi