Nannostomus mortenthaleri

Purpurziersalmler ( Nannostomus mortenthaleri )

The Purpurziersalmler ( Nannostomus mortenthaleri ) belongs to the family of Schlanksalmler ( Lebiasinidae ) and comes in the basin of the Rio Nanay ago in the Peruvian region of Loreto as well as in the nearby Rio Tigre. The species was in 2001 initially as a subspecies of Zwergziersalmlers ( Nannostomus marginatus ) described, but is managed as a distinct species since 2003. The species was named after Martin Morte Thaler, who discovered the fish in March 2000.

Features

The Purpurziersalmler has an elongated spindle-shaped body and three inches long. The top is brown. On each side of the body there are three longitudinal bands, the subdorsal line and submidlaterale extend into the base of the tail, the third, along the lower body contour, to the approach of the anal fin. The Middle and Lower start at the tip of the snout, the upper behind the eye. Adult males are distinguished by an intense red coloration between the longitudinal bands. The red coloration includes the upper iris region and extends to the tail fin base. Females are yellowish between the longitudinal bands. The leading edge of the dorsal fin is colored white-red. The remaining rays of the dorsal fin are black, the fin membrane is light, so that a dark line pattern. The hind margins of abdominal and anal fins are black. In contrast to the Zwergziersalmler sub- species (and the nominate N. marginatus marginatus ), which have mainly four-, five - or sechsspitzig teeth are tricuspid of Nannostomus mortenthaleri.

• Dandruff formula: MLR 19-22.

Hunting and

The fish were imported in June 2000 by Aquarium Dietzenbach first came to Germany as aquarium fish and soon traced it.