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apithanos is typically gun-metal grey/silver/white in colour, with a thick black dorsal stripe extending down to the rostrum. P. sp. `marbled` is considerably variable in colour and pattern, even among specimens from the same shipment. P. sp.
Distinguishing features are "a brush-like pilosity of the pairs of the claw carrying legs and the more or less developed tendency within this genera of a reduced rostrum"9. Shrimp in this genus have developed specialized feeding apparatus.
brevirostrum, C. rabauti ("myersi"), C. adolfoi, C. melanotaenia, C. trilineatus, C. barbatus, C. reticulatus, C. haraldshhutzi, C armatus, C. panda, C. sterbai, C. metae, C. evelynae, C. eques, C. arcuatus, C. elegans, C. pygmaeus etc.
It is difficult to tell these fish apart unless you have two side by side, then it is apparent that the true Alligator gar has a wider rostrum and often has a small "down turn" on the end of the upper jaw.
Males have a broader rostrum (snout) and develop rows of bristle-like odontotes along it as they mature. Not difficult to spawn in very soft, acidic water and very dim lighting.
Etymology: Brevus(L.): short; rostrum (L.): snout, referring to the shorter snout when compared to Corydoras melanistius.
O. macrospilus possesses clear characteristics, too. Its back is always spotted "tigerlike". This pattern already begins shortly behind the Rostrum. Often offered as O. affinis. Otocinclus species should always be kept as shoal.
B, brain; BC, brood chamber; C, digestive caecum; CE, compound eye; F, fornix; FA, first antenna (antennule); H, heart; INT, intestine; O, ocellus; OV, ovary; R, rostrum or beak; SG, shell gland. (Fig 1 was greatly modified from Storch, 1925.) ...
 See also: Fish, Water, Species, Aquarium, Plants
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