L-number identification

[sergio.vale]

Hi,
I'm new here and I would like knowing if you could help me to identify the L what I bought recently like being L236.
I bought how being L236 but I think in fact they are L173.
What do you think?
(sorry my poor english, ok?)

[sergio.vale]

other photo:

[johannes]

very nice patterning...

but i can't confirm the L number for you... but it does look like from the 173/236 group

[drakeho]

Looks 173

[celticfish]

Sorry for the lack of response.
I think everyone was tied up with Aquarama 2009 this past weekend.

From three points:
a) The signature zebra "M" on the snout
b) The eye colour
c) The location of the black lines on the body (they are where L046 has them too) I agree with your assessment that its more L173 than L236.

This fish is indeed a very controversial one!
Essentially, the two school of thoughts are:

1) That L173 is an L046 with exceptionally wavy lines.
So L046 and L173 is the same fish.
They mostly use the DATZ closing of the number L173 to justify their claim (and rightfully so).
Hence, if a fish has the same pattern as yours but doesn't have the same white colour eyes like an L046 they will say your fish isn't L173.
But they also cannot tell you what your fish is...

2) That L173 is not exactly the same fish as L046 but is Hypancistrus zebra sp. L173 (if this makes sense).
And guess what, they look just like your fish!

Though I'm not fortunate enough to be able to get a hold of L173 I'm incline to form my opinion with number two.
Do bear in mind my basis is only from the limited avialable pictures of these fish.
I have observed fish that have the three points mentioned.
I too have seen pictures of L046 like your fish but with white eye (the pictures are from Andre Werner) and believe they exist too!! (adding to the confusion... )

I would also like to point out that L173 (TL = 12 cm) has a totally different TL size to L046 (TL = 10cm).
On the basis of inconsistency of the above I do believe there is a fish out there called Hypancistrus zebra sp. L173.
And I still wonder why DATZ was so quick to close the L173 number and left L098 alone while and saying its an L046?!!
Also, they give a different TL to L098 (TL = 9 cm)!

Since the L-numbers was invented by DATZ they are the authority regardless of what we think.
So until they clarify the relationship between L046, L098 and L173 we can only have our opinions... now I must catch my breath!

[sergio.vale]

celticfish - thanks for your answer, it was very educative. I have 5 L46 too and their eyes are white, not yellow like my unknow L's. Do you know if there is someones in DATZ that could give an opinion?

[genes]

Could it be a nicely pattern undescribed hypancistrus species from the lower xingu. Or maybe it could be a L236, this i am not so sure. Here are pictures for comparison.

L173 from http://www.l173.de/index.html


L46 Picture by celticfish

[celticfish]

Thanks for the picture to illustrate!
Need less words now.

Opps I deleted the picture.
Give me sometime I'll repost it the the catfish section and re-link.

[wasabi8888]

Thanks for the picture to illustrate!
Need less words now.

Opps I deleted the picture.
Give me sometime I'll repost it the the catfish section and re-link.

hmmm... looks like my L173 as well.....