Morphology Data of Gymnogeophagus terrapurpura
Identification keys
Abnormalities
Main Ref. Loureiro, M., M. Zarucki, L.R. Malabarba and I. González-Bergonzoni, 2016
Appearance refers to
Bones in OsteoBase

Sex attributes

Specialized organs
Different appearance
Different colors
Remarks

Descriptive characteristics of juvenile and adult

Striking features
Body shape lateral
Cross section compressed
Dorsal head profile
Type of eyes
Type of mouth/snout
Position of mouth
Type of scales
Diagnosis

This species is distinguished from its congeners except for G. rhabdotus, G. meridionalis, G. setequedas, G. che by the number of E1 scales, 23-25 (vs. 26-30), and its substrate-brooding behavior. This species differs from the four species by the unique pigmentation of the dorsal fin: it differs from meridionalis in having diagonal bright blue stripes (light brown in preserved specimens) over a red background (brown in preserved specimens) in the spiny section, and a combination of round, elliptical, and elongated bright blue spots (light brown in preserved specimens) in the soft section versus whitish light blue round spots (white to light brown in preserved specimens) over a red background (brown in preserved specimens) in the whole fin of meridionalis or diagonal whitish light blue stripes (white to light brown in preserved specimens) over a red background in the whole spiny section of the fin and the distal ¾ of the soft section in rhabdotus, setequedas and che; further distinguished from rhabdotus by the termination of the bright blue band that runs above the upper lateral line before reaching a bright blue spot placed above the first perforated scale (vs. band continuous with that spot); differs further from meridionalis, setequedas and che by the anal fin pigmentation pattern which consists of light blue rounded spots (light brown in preserved specimens) over a red to orange background (brown in preserved specimens) versus white irregularly shaped spots over a dark red back ground in meridionalis or diagonal light stripes in setequedas and che; differs from meridionalis by the absence of small clear spots between anal fin rays that reach the distal edge of the fin vs. presence (Ref, 123556).

Ease of Identification

Meristic characteristics of Gymnogeophagus terrapurpura

Lateral Lines Interrupted: No
Scales on lateral line
Pored lateral line scales
Scales in lateral series
Scale rows above lateral line
Scale rows below lateral line
Scales around caudal peduncle
Barbels
Gill clefts (sharks/rays only)
Gill rakers
on lower limb
on upper limb
total
Vertebrae
preanal
total

Fins

Dorsal fin(s)

Attributes
Fins number 1
Finlets No. Dorsal   
Ventral  
Spines total 14 - 15
Soft-rays total 8 - 9
Adipose fin

Caudal fin

Attributes

Anal fin(s)

Fins number 1
Spines total 3 - 3
Soft-rays total 7 - 9

Paired fins

Pectoral Attributes  
Spines     0
Soft-rays   13 - 13
Pelvics Attributes  
Position    
Spines     1
Soft-rays   5 - 5
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