question for people smarter than i am

snookman · Post by **snookman** » 06 Jan 2005, 01:12

i guess this is where i post this question. i might be the only one that doesn't know even

anyways, what does the "cf" in some species name mean/stand for?

Post by **Silurus** » 06 Jan 2005, 01:41

The cf. in a species name is the Latin abbreviation of confer (compare). Its usage implies that the species in question is not readily identifiable, but is closest to a particular species (e.g. Corydoras cf. aeneus is a Corydoras of uncertain identity that most resembles C. aeneus).

snookman · Post by **snookman** » 06 Jan 2005, 01:44

thanks..reason i ask is i ran across a Synodontis c.f. nigromaculatus...and the major difference was just the color of his dorsal and pectoral fins...otherwise identical to the pics in the cat-e-log.