Hybrid Royal Gramma????????

I've been comparing pic's of Royal Gramma and Black Cap Basslets. The Black Cap seems to have eyes set more forward than Royal Gramma, and they lack the elongated pelvic fins. Their natural habitat may overlap, so do you think this could explain the odd appearance of the fish in the link??????
 
I just think that is a huge old gramma.

But there are two species of gramma that are very similar.

Gramma brasilinsis

Gramma loreto

~Michael
 
that definitly is a Gramma brasiliensis (Brazilian Basslet).
The link in your post is mixing up the pictures of Gramma brasiliensis
and Gramma loreto.

Those words is from theaquariumwiki.com

"This fish looks very similar to the Gramma loreto, with only minor differences. The Brazilian Basslet is slightly smaller when adult to the Royal Gramma, the Brazilian Basslet is also endemic to Brazil. The colouration is slightly different, this Basslet's violet colour is not as vivid as the Royal Gramma and the fade in colour is more gradual. The jawline extends past the pupil and the first dorsal spine is shorter than the rest. "

And the fish in the picture, its jawline is giving away its true identity.
 
You got that one right! I am very familiar with G. brasiliensis (seen, collected and kept many in my tank when I lived in Brazil), and that's the first thought I had when I saw the picture. Now, one character not mentioned in your diagnosis above, that is really easy to use to differentiate these two species is the length of the pelvic fins, which is much longer in G. loreto than in G. brasiliensis. For example, compare these, the first two seem to be G. brasiliensis:

http://www.oceanlight.com/spotlight.php?img=08679

http://www.oceanlight.com/spotlight.php?img=11830

Notice how on the photos above the pelvic fin ends under the belly, way before the anal fin starts. Now look at these two, typical G. loreto:

http://www.oceanlight.com/spotlight.php?img=11827

http://www.oceanlight.com/spotlight.php?img=08680

On the two above, the pelvic fin not only reaches, but passes the anal fin. There is one thing that puzzles me though, in this photo: http://www.oceanlight.com/spotlight.php?img=11830 on the top left corner there is a Chromis cyanea out of focus, the photo seems to have been taken in the wild, and C. cyanea occurs only in the Caribbean, while G. brasiliensis is only in Brazil. So, either the photo was taken in an aquarium or this is a new record of G. brasiliensis in the Caribbean. I will be contacting the photographer about it.

Now, this fish looks odd even for a G. brasiliensis, it is way too "fat", and looks old. It may even be a hybrid between G. loreto and G. brasiliensis, great find!
 
IMO the purple/orange fade interface is the easiest way to tell them apart.
 
Luiz, to me the photo with the C. cyanea seems to be taken in an aquarium, it looks like you can see the shadow of the chromis on the back wall.
 
Cantonesefish said:
Luiz, to me the photo with the C. cyanea seems to be taken in an aquarium, it looks like you can see the shadow of the chromis on the back wall.
Click to expand...

Hmm, true, I thought that was just another fish, but it does look like a shadow, and that blue background looks artificial too. I asked the photographer anyways just to make sure, but is looking like it's just a large (or overfed) G. brasiliensis in a Caribbean themed tank.
 
Yeah, that is a grizzled old Brazilian Gramma there. Looks like he has seen lots of combat! LOL

Matthew
 
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