NEWS 110
24
Pterophyllum leopoldi
This is the third of the angelfish species currently generally
accepted as valid.The other two are
P.scalare
and
P.altum.
However,
since time immemorial the species
P. leopoldi
has been labeled P.
dumerili in the hobby and in the trade; but
P. dumerili
is in fact a
synonym of
P.scalare.
P. leopoldi
comes from Brazil, where it is found together with
P.
scalare
.
P.leopoldi
always swims in a typical "head-up" position,very
reminiscent of the flag cichlids of the genus
Mesonauta
,withwhich
the angelfishes are closely related.The typical swimming position
of
P. leopoldi
has even led to the lower caudal-fin filament always
being longer than the upper.This character is so typical that it can
be used to identify the species!
P. leopoldi
grows to around 15 cm long and its maintenance
requirements are the same as those of the well-known
P.scalare
.
