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Re: KillieTalk Digest V2 #247

Hi again,

	I was startled by John De Luca's comment that when Aplocheilus Lineatus
Gold first made its appearance in the UK, it was felt to be a hybrid.
Given most killie people's (and my) bias against selling hybrids
(justifiable given that we are destroying pure strains not always to be
found in nature again and in that the hybrids are often very beautiful
"mules") this is disturbing. Having seen the sloppy job some commercial
ventures have done in keeping rainbowfish strains pure (according to the
RML list) this is certainly not beyond a possibility.

	When the golden lineatus first showed up I assumed it was an aquarium
sport. Xanthic or yellow forms - without black pigment - are not
uncommon in the hobby - witness the "orange" lyretail, the golden
guentheri and locally even a golden Aphanius mento for a while.

	What evidence would for it being a hybrid and not a sport is there?
(This enquiring mind wants to know.) Lineatus has a wide distribution in
the Indian subcontinent.

	Bruce Turner (about 25 years ago) wrote the AKA publication mentioning
that his anticipated description of a new Aplocheilus has been deferred.
(It was supposed to be Aplo. jonklassi, but he stopped the project
concluding that his specimens could well be a variant of dayi.
Unfortunately a friend in the hobby, not aware of the aborted
description wrote a hobbyist article on jonklassi, thereby in
advertantly publishing a name and "species" and a synonym - opps!)
Turner alluded to the great need to systematically study the various
populations of Aplocheilus in India and Sri Lanka before any more
descriptions were handed out. He also concluded that that was a task he
couldn't do at the time.

	I guess this suggests several possibilities for the golden lineatus. It
could be an aquarium sport. It could be a hybrid of lineatus x ?. It
could be a crossing of two quite different strains of wild lineatus or
different strains originally from the wild. Although a long shot, it
might even be an importation (probably what some commercial types would
say). Although they are are rarely imported from Asian sources to
Chicago (seemingly not as often as in the past). once in a while
lineatus and panchax do show up.

	If it is held to be a hybrid, what would be the nominees for the
crossing? You've obviously raised a question which has bothered me and
be lurking around.

			Thanks,

			Scott