What you noticed about them looking much different from your longears is
true. The "western " or "Mississippi valley" form is most like a typical
longear. Atleast as far as the bright orange/red breast and body with the
large turquoise lines on the face and a lot of larger spangles on the body.
These two forms are so different in fact the females are easily told apart,
and even young over 1.5 inches can be distinguished easily. Body shape ,
mouth shape , fins, everything is different. They even seem to act different
in feeding. I had hybridized the two forms, and they produced viable young.
They looked midway between the two parents. I got rid of them ( gar food).
Ray
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