Apisto Nijsseni.

[Microman]

I have aquired females of this species from different sources and they have always been labelled as Apisto Nijsseni but they are different as one type shows a large lateral blotch and there is no sign of it on the other type.Apart
from this they seem almost identical.
Are they both forms of Nijsseni from different localities and populations or are
they different species.
Advice would be appreciated,Thanks,
Mark.

 

[Mike Wise]

A. nijsseni can show a large flank blotch & at other times no blotch at all. They almost always show an entirely black gill cover instead of cheek stripe and a large round caudal spot on the caudal peduncle. Römer's atlas shows the various patterns on A. nijsseni.