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Notes on Haplochilus lineatus 



CHARLES J. SAWYER 



Haplochilus lineatus 





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There are aquarists who "go into rap- 

 tures" when Haplochilus cameronensis 

 is mentioned, proclaiming it as the most 

 beautiful member of the genus. But 

 then to decide, the state of mind of the 

 individual must be considered. I pre- 

 fer H. lineatus. Its beauty is of a differ- 

 ent sort, sparkling and sharp, like a fine- 

 ly cut gem. Besides it has "pep." I 

 think none the less of it because a big 

 fellow once gobbled a batch of youn^ 

 guppies. whereby I gained a bit of ex- 

 perience. 



When lineatus was first secured by 



India ' 



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aquarists it was identified as Haplo- 

 chilus rubro stigma,, and this apparently 

 erroneous name has stuck like a postage 

 stamp ever since. The differences be- 

 tween the two are not great, the formu- 

 lae of fins and scales being much alike 

 If lineatus and rubrostignia are distinct 

 from one another, the question concerns 

 identification ; if the two names refer to 

 the same fish we must accept lineatus 

 as correct, it being the older. Both 

 species, conceding them as distinct, are 

 found in the same general localities in 

 India. 



