Apistogramma barlowi

Apistogramma barlowi is a species of dwarf cichlid in the Geophagini tribe of the subfamily Cichlinae, the American cichlids. It is found in forest streams northwest of Pebas town in northern Peru.^[2] It was first discovered in Peru in 2000 and scientifically described in 2008.^[2] Apistogramma barlowi is a freshwater fish that grows to a length of 6.5 cm (2.6 in).^[3] There are two forms which occur in separate parts of its range: a red form that is darker and has red marks on the head, and a white form that is paler.^[3] The specific name is in honor of the ichthyologist George W. Barlow.^[4]

Apistogramma barlowi
Conservation status
Least Concern  (IUCN 3.1)[1]
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Actinopterygii
Order:	Cichliformes
Family:	Cichlidae
Tribe:	Geophagini
Subtribe:	Geophagina
Genus:	Apistogramma
Species:	A. barlowi
Binomial name
Apistogramma barlowi U. Römer, & I. J. Hahn, 2008

The fish has previously been known under the trade name Apistogramma sp. "mouthbrooder", "Maulbrüter" or "Brustband".

Spawning

This species is a facultative, biparental larvophilous mouthbrooder, which is unusual in the genus Apistogramma.^[5] Like other members of the genus, they spawn in caves. After the fry have hatched, the female and/or male keeps them in their mouth until they are free-swimming. This species may also keep the eggs and young fry in a shallow pit throughout the brood care process, thus bypassing a mouthbrooding phase. Males are more likely to exclusively mouthbrood the fry when strong water currents are present.^[3]

Habitat

Apistogramma barlowi prefers relatively cool and clear fast-flowing forest streams with an acidic to neutral pH.^[2] In one case, the habitat was a 1 m (3.3 ft) wide stream with a sandy bottom (no aquatic plants or large stones), a pH of 4.8 and a temperature of 29 °C (84 °F) (this is the upper limit of the usual temperature range of waters where the species occurs).^[3]