New habitat of alfredi or New type or New species?
A new habitat of Parosphromenus in Pahang is confirmed. The population there might be identified as alfredi or a sub-species of alfredi. Here is the story.
A tragedy of Parosphromenus is well known in recent years that, the traditional collecting location of P. alfredi in Johor was destroyed due to many reasons. This means that the last accessible habitat of this species was lost. According to the local community the last wild caught specimens was dated back to 2016. However, an interesting report reached us in 2018 by a breeder from Hongkong that he still kept one female of alfredi from a different location. This new location is recorded by a German Explorer. He found this Parosphromenus habitat in Pahang many years ago. The specimens caught there were identified by him as alfredi at that time. This is a flame in the darkness. He kindly shared his location with us. In 2020, our expedition leader Shi [S.J.D. Team] headed into this area. Beside this location, a second habitat was kindly shared with us by two local hobbyists. Parosphromenus populations were recorded from both habitats. The specimens from both locations appear to be same type. These fish are typical red members of the “harveyi Group” with red bands on unpaired fins and a round caudal fin. The pelvic fin tips of these fish DO show iridescent blue color, which leads to an identification of alfredi by the discover. However, the taxonomical details might be a little bit more complicated than expected. The fin rays and other characters all fit the original description of alfredi, and they can be easily classified as alfredi via the index of 2005. Yet, the most important pelvic fin tip color is not fully same as the alfredi from Johor. The blue color on pelvic fin tips of the Pahang ones is dark and not continuous, which is closer to rubrimontis, instead of the continuous light blue/white tips of the Johor alfredi. Nonetheless, the fin rays of these Pahang ones don’t fit the numbers of rubrimontis but alfredi. Different opinions are held towards their taxonomical position. Considering the fact that most of their characters are consistent to alfredi and they do show slight differences to their Johor relatives, we temporarily label them as cf. alfredi Pahang. Further studies are required.
These fish live in clear water. They possess intense red color on fins. Rarely some specimens have slightly spade caudal fin like phoenicurus. They are quite attractive fish. However, once again, their habitat is threatened by oil-palm plantation. One of the habitats is partly disturbed by the nearby plantation. We hope they might be protected from the tragic fate of their Johor relatives, the original alfredi.
We thank SHOAL for the supporting of this survey.
