Altolamprologus compressiceps vs Altolamprologus calvus

[steve]

What is the main diffrence between the 2? They look almost identical to me.

[tsunderl]

From http://www.cichlid-forum.com/articles/a_compressiceps.php

"Alto. compressiceps is characterized by a laterally compressed body, a sloping forehead with a turned-up snout , bold, tiger-like stripes and white to blue spots that decorate the posterior two-thirds of their flanks. The spots are more intense in adult males of the species. Comps are closely related to Altolamprologus calvus. These two differ morphologically in that Comps have shorter jaws and their snout is turned up, whereas the calvus has a long, sloping face. Comps' bars are more distinct and their spots less so, being just the opposite of the calvus. "

[kewlkatdady]

really there is very little difference between the different varients other than color and size.

There is a little difference as far as the shape. Calvus usually have a body that is more elongated than comps.. comps usually have body that is verically elongated versus calvus that usually have their body horizontally elongated.. basically calvus has a longer body horizontally and comps have a longer body vertically.. very simple to tell the difference between comps and calvus