Please help me ID this Pebas-like fish

[Melanochromis]

I went to Hong Kong and saw a tank of interesting Apistogramma. The shop owner said they are wild-caught fish called "cruzi algodon"

Is the fish is one of those "Pebas"? Can it be A. sp. "Pebas" (Noronha), which is coded A88 in the Datz book? Would anyone be able to confirm the ID of the fish?

Thanks

 

[Mike Wise]

Yes, it is A. sp. Pebas. I cannot give it a population name because we do not know where it was collected. A. sp. Pebas populations are now known to be distributed in streams between Oran and Pebas.

 

[Melanochromis]

Thank you, Mike. Can I ask what's the difference between "Pebas" and the fish called "Roca Eterna"? And if perhaps Roca Eterna is another population of Pebas?

Anyway, here are some more pictures of a fish from that batch. This one seems to be female.

 

[Mike Wise]

A. sp. Roca Eterna, like A. sp. Papagei, has a double caudal spot shaped more like a horizontal figure 8 (obviously pinched in the middle where the caudal spot meets the darker middle of Bar 7). A. sp. Pebas has a double spot with with little or no 'pinching'. Populations of A. sp. Pebas are found with both A. sp. Roca Eterna & A. sp. Papagei. This assemblage of species/forms really needs much more study, both distribution and genetics.

 

[Melanochromis]

I see. If the difference is only the shape caudal spot, it seems quite minor to me. It reminds me of the martini and pantalone case. Anyway, I guess all the tiny things make a difference in Apistogramma.