German cichlid experts Wolfgang Staeck and Ingo Schindler have described a new species of dwarf cichlid from Bolivia.
Publishing the description of Apistogramma erythrura in the latest issue of the journal Vertebrate Zoology, the authors distinguish it from congeners in having the combination of: only two postlacrymal infraorbital lateralis canal pores, five dentary lateralis canal pores, a broad lateral band with even borders that widens posteriorly to a height of at least two and a half scale rows and extends into the anterior half of the caudal fin without a caudal spot, and the absence of both an oblique dark stripe between the pectoral-fin base and the anal fin origin and of any other dark markings below the lateral band.
The following combination of characters in adult males is unique to A. erythrura: usually a partly or even completely bright red rounded caudal fin, extremely elongate anterior dorsal-fin lappets (those of fourth to sixth spine longest) and prolonged pelvic-fin filaments reaching the posterior end of the anal-fin base.
Apistogramma erythrura is known from the lower Mamor River in the province of Beni in Bolivia.
The species is named after the colour of the caudal fin in most adult males (Greek erythro=red and ouros=tail) and has been imported into the aquarium trade since 1995 as Apistogramma sp. Mamor.
According to the authors, All our collecting sites of Apistogramma erythrura are typical clear-water habitats with acid, very soft transparent and colourless water.
The following water data were gathered in July, August or September of different years at the localities above mentioned: pH 5.2"6.4; electrical conductivity