[quote=”Peter Finke” post=5015]…Similarly P. tweediei females could show rather clear reddish-brown markings in that situations.[/quote]
This is an interesting fact – perhaps this characteristic, observed in the pictured female that is often displaying to the male, is one clue as to the identity of this fish. In the absence of a known collecting location, can this characteristic provide information that links these fish more closely to P. tweediei? Clearly, the female unpaired and pelvic fins show areas of chocolate-brown to black coloration. There appears to be dark brown marginal bands in the dorsal and anal fins. (Also red coloration to varying degrees appears throughout the unpaired fins. In the caudal fin, the red colors seem to be concentrated toward the base of the caudal fin and not toward the distal margins, which remain colorless). Also note the presence of metallic coloration along the edges of the membranes between the tips for the spinous rays of the dorsal and anal fins, and some conspicuous glittering greenish-gold regions on the gill covers. There is also a red stripe between the mouth and the eye. These observations may seem ‘obsessive’ – but they are all there to be observed and noted.
[IMG]http://imagizer.imageshack.us/v2/xq90/661/1AF4XP.jpg[/IMG]
Is it known if females of P. phoenicurus or P. opallios (or even P. rubrimontis) females share this same characteristic?
If they do, we are no closer to an answer to the puzzle; if they do not share this characteristic, then perhaps we are, as they would be less likely to be the candidate species, and P. tweediei (aff.) would be more closely indicated, as both males and females, then, would share color patterns similar to P. tweediei. Not that this says they are P. tweediei (aff.) as they could be something completely different from either of these named fishes, but it is something to consider as far as identifying characteristics.