Notes on the Fishes of the Cichlid Family I. Apistogramma cacatuoides sp. n

The Dwarf-cichlid genus Apistogramma, very popular among aquarists and at present among students of animal behaviour, hitherto comprises about 16 forms, several of them hardly specifically distinguished, and probably only based on stages or sexes of other species. Nevertheless I found a new form among a small collection of fresh-water fishes, imported alive by a sailor from near Paramaribo, in Dutch Guiana. I had the opportunity to keep them in an aquarium for several months, and to study their behaviour. When at last they died I tried to identify this species, and it then appeared that they were new to science. They may, however, be identical with the species described by Innes as Apistogramma U2, of which I have been unable to find a scientific description yet. The two specimens on which the new species is based, were captured near Paramaribo, where they lived together with Apistogramma steindachneri (Regan 1908), at least forms which resemble this species in almost every character. I will report on this form in the revision of the genus which is in preparation.