Taxonomy & naming
Geophagus sp. "Altamira" is a trade label for an undescribed Geophagus, named for the town of Altamira in Para state. Imperial Tropicals says the fish bears a heavy resemblance to Geophagus altifrons and that the Xingu already holds several Geophagus of the Altifrons group, and it treats the form as a possible subspecies or locality form of G. altifrons, which it says is not confirmed. The atlas takes no position. The form is undescribed, and its identity and range are not documented in the sources behind the atlas.
Morphology
Imperial Tropicals says young or stressed fish are silver and can be extremely hard to tell from other Geophagus, and that healthy adults show colour. No measurements are recorded in the atlas's sources.
Habitat
Imperial Tropicals says the fish occurs in the transitional zone between the Brazilian highlands and the Amazonian lowlands near Altamira, on the Rio Xingu. Genus-level: Geophagus are South American eartheaters that live over sand and fine gravel in rivers and streams.
Feeding
Not documented for this form. Genus-level: Geophagus sift sand through the mouth and gills for small invertebrates and organic matter.
Mating
Not documented for this form.
Breeding
Not documented for this form. Genus-level: Geophagus include both substrate spawners and mouthbrooders; which applies to this form is not recorded.
In the aquarium
Imperial Tropicals says it is rarely seen in the hobby. Genus-typical care applies: a roomy tank with a deep, fine sand bottom, a good current, and clean water kept at moderate temperatures for a river fish.
Conservation
An undescribed form has no IUCN category, and none is claimed here. Population and range data for it are not documented in the atlas's sources.