Hans-Georg Evers & Frank Schäfer - Corydoras: Alle C-Nummern. All C-Numbers - Uitgever: Aqualog (Aqualog Extra)
The true mailed catfishes, with around 150 described species and at least as many not yet classified by science, form a highly complex group. All things considered, research into the systematics of these fishes, which are apparently all very closely related to one another, is very much in its infancy.
Their body structure is an evolutionary masterpiece that is thought to have remained almost unchanged for millions of years. In addition to different feeding, swimming, and breeding behaviour, the most siginficant difference between many species is the body shape and markings, and in most cases these are highly variable. If we also take into account the fact that the coloration of Corydoras often changes considerably from live coloration when they are preserved in alcohol or formalin (the specimens from which scientific description are prepared are always preserved, and often the describer will never have seen a live individual), then it rapidly becomes clear that the determination of Corydoras is a difficult and often rather hopeless business, and the more so because some of the original types (i.e. the specimens on which the scientific description is based) are thought to be 'lost'.
Now, it is true that in the aquarium hobby it is not the scientific name of a species, but the live fish, that is the centre of interest. However, it is sometimes necessary to be able to indicate what species we are talking about, and hence C-numbers were brought into being in the magazine DATZ (= een Duits tijdschrift voor aquaria en terraria), for identifying Corydoradinae that have been imported but not yet determined.
The first C-number appeared in the DATZ of 12/1993. Since then a number of species have either been described as new species or identified as existing described species. The majority of C-numbers, however, remain just as difficult to classify as in the past. By the time the Aqualog 'all Corydoras' was published in 1996 there were already C-numbers 1-46. In the meantime we have reached C132 and there is no end in sight. But we nevertheless feel it makes sense to publish this complete list of all the C-numbers to date, compiled in line with the most recent knowledge.
We wish all Corydoras fans great pleasure in this Aqualog Extra.
(Duits- en Engelstalige uitgave; afmetingen (h x b) 29,5 x 21cm; 39 pagina's; geniet)
