Where do we find the Parosphromenus and their friends?
As you can see from the top menu, we have a map module integrated into our website. Why?
Only for a few other aquarium fish is it so important as for Parosphromenus, to know where they come from. This is because of the extensive habitat destruction that threatens their survival, but also because we have little knowledge of their genetic diversity. For some species it is visual: P. nagyi from the region around Kuantan looks different to P. nagyi from the area near Cherating; in this case the overall distribution of the species in West Malaysia is quite well known. But for most species we are completely uncertain in this respect . One example is P. parvulus: Originally we found them from only a few points north west of Banjarmasin in Kalimantan Tengah. Today we know that the species has an apparently far greater distribution, and fishes from the area of Palangkaraya and Babugus look a little different than fishes from the area of Tangkiling. But how different they really are? We do not know.
This is why it is important that the fishes do not mix while breeding. Therefore, one must know where they come from. This is especialy interesting for forms that are not yet scientifically described . They are usually designated according to their locality of origin, for example P. spec. Langgam (a locality in Sumatra) and P. sp. Lundu (Sarawak). Our map module can now easily assist for the search of such discovery locations. Although the satellite images, which the cards are based on, are now a little older, you can see in many places, the beginnings of forest destruction.
HS