Heya
Shaun, allow me first to return the sentiments, it is interesting and a worthy subject to be enthralled by. Whilst we get the soggy end of the stick when it comes to the obtainability of these fish, likely as not what you end up with is not at all what is in the minds eye, when the money is on the table. Half the allure of catfish for me is the difficulty in correct identification, and the unknown element that comes with this.
I agree with your premise concerning Peppermints. As you say, two distinct looking fish are being sold. I am looking for the 'snowflake' at the moment, and while lfs throughout the Perth metro have similar fish, they just dont cut the butter...
Wild caught fish and their first or second aquarium progeny always look different, I have found, to the fish that have been kept and bred for generations. Lack of new genes leads to speciation (and deformity / abnormalities) and problems. So, loss of colour, size, abnormal proportions etc occur.
A. triradiatus (wild) has a very distinctive growth down the nose and across the jaw (like an inverted T), or in a circle, where as the bristlenose that we call the 'common' grow bristles over the entirety of their 'face'. This may well be a matter of speciation...
Previous work on the classification and description of catfish is lacking, and while I doubt the work will ever be scratched and started anew it seems that this could likely be the best course of action.
However, some fish from the Aqualog et al are likely lost from habitat / ecological damage occuring in S. America and Africa at any rate.
I will keep you posted on what I manage to dig up!
Good question wazza! Hard to answer with out wading through bucket loads of beaurocratic nonsense. In W.A at least I suspect it is due to protecting Water Ways from released (Escapees!! bah politicians are fools.) pets (as in NT.) However, I think it has more to do with keeping the trout free of competition...
(Actually try this...)
pub79.ezboard.com/fperthc...1140.topicI have seen shops throughout S.E Asia that sell many varieties of catfish that only a book could compete against.
Brett, there are a few sites online that have a little information regarding taxonomy and phylogeny, but are very specific to certain genera or with problem fish.
Though much of the information is likely to be outdated I have found most in university library's, and while I have never looked in WA uni's I would imagine that this would hold. I will check out Murdoch library when I am there next.
I have a few books on catfish, though most give reference to the taxonomist that described the fish only.
Short of getting a degree and dedicating your life to the field, there are no short order do it yourself guides or anything... well, none that I have come across anyway!
It seems that Lori's have been left behind when it comes to clear cut definitions of fish, though we cant really complain. When it comes down to it the Lori's are the most documented catfish (perhaps next to bagridae...)
Hmm another fascinating family of cats...
Regards
BT
Edited by: BT at: 1/11/04 4:08 am