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question for people smarter than i am

Posted: 06 Jan 2005, 01:12
by snookman
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?

Posted: 06 Jan 2005, 01:41
by Silurus
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).

Posted: 06 Jan 2005, 01:44
by snookman
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.