Nonindigenous Fishes Introduced into Inland Waters of the United States

Pam L. Fuller, Leo G. Nico, and James D. Williams

622 pages Published by American Fisheries Society Publication date: 1999

Summary

AFS Special Publication 27

Whether termed exotics, transplants, or aliens, nonindigenous species are those that enter an ecosystem beyond their historic range. This book is based on an extensive and ongoing electronic database of more than 500 nonindigenous fish taxa (species, hybrids, and unidentified forms) in U.S. inland open waters, and is comprised primarily of summary accounts of each taxa. Also, the book summarizes the historical trends and spatial patterns of fish introductions nationwide and gives an overview of the database itself, which is a major subset of a larger research database of other nonindigenous aquatic species.

This book includes:

* scientific and common names * references to aid in species identification * maximum size for adults * native range * nonindigenous occurrences * means of introduction * reproductive status and persistence * impacts from introduction * voucher specimens for foreign species * remarks * range map * reported occurrences

Studying these species is critical to determining their possible effects on the native organisms and the physical environment. This book will be useful to those who want or need to understand the control and management of species already introduced as well as those being considered for introduction.

This book is intended for:

* state fish and game agency employees * fishery and environmental biologists * managers of aquatic systems and resources * land and refuge managers * ichthyologists * students in the above areas * citizens involved in natural resource issues * anglers

Table of Contents

Dedication

Acknowledgments

Introduction

The Database

Status of Nonindigenous Fishes

Summary of Reported Occurrences of Nonindigenous Fishes

Terminology

Arrangement and Format of Species Accounts

Hybrids

Species Erroneously Reported as Introduced

Reporting Problems and Requests for Information

Species Accounts

ORDER PETROMYZONTIFORMES

Petromyzontidae - Lampreys

ORDER ACIPENSERIFORMES

Acipenseridae - Sturgeons

Polyodontidae - Paddlefishes

ORDER SEMIONTIFORMES

Lepisosteidae - Gars

ORDER AMIIFORMES

Amiidae - Bowfin

ORDER OSTEOGLOSSIFORMES

Osteoglossidae - Bonytongues

Hiodontidae - Mooneyes

Notopteridae - Featherfin knifefishes

ORDER ELOPIFORMES

Megalopidae - Tarpons

ORDER ALBULIFORMES

Albulidae - Bonefishes

ORDER ANGUILLIFORMES

Anguillidae - Freshwater eels

ORDER CLUPEIFORMES

Engraulidae - Anchovies

Clupeidae - Herrings

ORDER GONORYNCHIFORMES

Chanidae - Milkfishes

ORDER CYPRINIFORMES

Cyprinidae - Minnows

Catostomidae - Suckers

Cobitidae - Loaches

ORDER CHARACIFORMES

Anostomidae - Headstanders

Erythrinidae - Trahiras

Characidae - Characins

ORDER SILURIFORMES

Ictaluridae - Bullhead catfishes

Clariidae - Labyrinth catfishes

Doradidae - Thorny catfishes

Auchenipteridae - Driftwood catfishes

Pimelodidae - Longwhiskered catfishes

Callichthyidae - Plated catfishes

Loricariidae - Suckermouth catfishes

ORDER ESOCIFORMES

Esocidae - Pikes

Umbridae - Mudminnows

ORDER OSMERIFORMES

Osmeridae - Smelts

ORDER SALMONIFORMES

Salmonidae - Trouts

ORDER PERCOPSIFORMES

Percopsidae - Trout-perches

Aphredoderidae - Pirate Perches

Amblyopsidae - Cavefishes

ORDER GADIFOMES

Gadidae - Cods

ORDER MUGILIFORMES

Mugilidae - Mullets

ORDER ATHERINIFORMES

Melanotaeniidae - Rainbowfishes

Atherinidae - Silversides

ORDER BELONIFORMES

Adrianichthyidae - Ricefishes

Belonidae - Needlefishes

ORDER CYPRINODONTIFORMES

Aplocheilidae - Rivulins

Rivulidae - New World rivulins

Fundulidae - Topminnows

Poeciliidae - Live bearers

Goodeidae - Splitfins

Cyprinodontidae - Pupfishes

ORDER GASTEROSTEIFORMES

Gasterosteidae - Sticklebacks

ORDER SYNBRANCHIFORMES

Synbranchidae - Swamp eels

ORDER SCORPAENIFORMES

Cottidae - Sculpins

ORDER PERCIFORMES

Centropomidae - Snooks

Moronidae - Temperate basses

Serranidae - Sea basses

Centrarchidae - Sunfishes

Percidae - Perches

Nematistiidae - Roosterfish

Carangidae - Jacks and Pompanos

Gerreidae - Mojarras

Haemulidae - Grunts

Sciaenidae - Drums

Kyphosidae - Sea chubs

Kuhliidae - Flagtails

Cichlidae - Cichlids

Embiotocidae - Surfperches

Labridae - Wrasses

Gobiidae - Gobies

Scombridae - Mackerels and tunas

Stromateidae - Butterfishes

Anabantidae - gouramies

Helostomatidae - Kissing gouramies

Belontiidae - Gouramies

Osphronemidae - Giant gouramies

Channidae - Snakeheads

ORDER PLEURONECTIFORMES

Paralichthyidae - Paralichthyid flounders

Pleuronectidae - Righteye flounders

Erroneous Records of Introductions

Cyprinidae

Ictaluridae

Salmonidae

Belonidae

Fundulidae

Percidae

Stromateidae

Literature Cited

Personal Communications

Appendix A - List of Species Included in this Report

Appendix B - Glossary

Appendix C - Foreign Fish Matrix

Appendix D - Native Fish Matrix

Appendix E - Hybrid Fish Matrix

Nonindigenous Species Database Voluntary Reporting Form