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| NAS - Nonindigenous Aquatic Species |
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Common Name: African jewelfish
Taxonomy: available through 
Identification: Described as Hemichromis letourneuxi (Sauvage 1880), but commonly misspelled as H. letourneauxi. Loiselle (1979) revised the genus and provided diagnoses, photographs, and synonyms for the species. An updated key to the genus was given in Loiselle (1992). Color photographs were provided by Linke and Staeck (1994). Until recently, all published references to introduced populations of this species taken in Florida were incorrectly identified or listed as Hemichromis bimaculatus (Smith-Vaniz, personal communication).
Size: 12 cm SL (Loiselle 1979).
Native Range:
Tropical Africa. Widespread in Central and West Africa (Loiselle 1979, 1992; Linke and Staeck 1994).
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Interactive maps: Continental US, Alaska, Hawaii, Caribbean
Nonindigenous Occurrences: The species was first documented as occurring in South Florida in the Hialeah Canal-Miami River Canal system, Miami area, by Rivas (1965). It is now established and abundant in many canals in and around Miami, Dade County, and also in parts of the Everglades (Courtenay et al. 1974; Hogg 1976a, 1976b; Loftus and Kushlan 1987; Nico and Smith-Vaniz, personal communication). The species was taken from canals near fish farms in Palm Beach and Brevard counties in 1970 and 1983 (Smith-Vaniz, personal communication). Specimens also were taken from a drainage ditch on Big Pine Key, Monroe County, on 10 May 1993 (museum specimens). There are unconfirmed reports that the species has occurred and is possibly established in Eureka Springs near Tampa, Hillsborough County (Courtenay et al. 1974). There are other reports from southwestern Florida (Charlotee Harbor NEP 2004). In the late 1990s and early 2000s, this species moved westward into Everglades National Park, Big Cypress Preserve and the Alafia River (P. Shafland, personalcommunication).
Means of Introduction: This species was possibly introduced into Florida through aquarium release, perhaps in combination with escapes or releases from fish farms.
Status: Established in Florida. Prior to 1972, found only in Miami Canal and canals on western side of Miami International Airport (Hogg 1976a). Species now abundant and spreading westward.
Impact of Introduction: Unknown.
Remarks:
This cichlid possibly competes with native sunfishes for spawning sites. Loftus and Kushlan (1987) reported that this aggressive fish nests near the spawning areas of other introduced cichlids, including the spotted tilapia Tilapia mariae and black acara Cichlasoma bimaculatum.
Voucher specimens: Florida (UF 34930, 96387, 96408, 96426, many others).
Charlotte Harbor NEP. 2004. Minutes of the Technical Advisory Committee, Habitat Conservation Subcommittee. February 19, 2004, Punta Gorda.
Courtenay, W. R., Jr., H. F. Sahlman, W. W. Miley, II, and D. J. Herrema. 1974. Exotic fishes in fresh and brackish waters of Florida. Biological Conservation 6(4):292-302.
Hink, H., and W. Staeck. 1994. African cichlids I: Cichlids from West Africa. Tetra Press, Melle, Germany.
Hogg, R. G. 1976a. Ecology of fishes of the family Cichlidae introduced into the fresh waters of Dade County, Florida. Unpublished doctoral dissertation. University of Miami, Coral Gables, FL. 142 pp.
Hogg, R. G. 1976b. Established exotic cichlid fishes in Dade County, Florida. Florida Scientist 39(2):97-103.
Loftus, W. F., and J. A. Kushlan. 1987. Freshwater fishes of southern Florida. Bulletin of the Florida State Museum of Biological Science 31(4):255.
Loiselle, P. V. 1979. A revision of the genus Hemichromis Peters 1858 (Teleostei: Cichlidae). Museé Royal de L'Afrique Central-Tervuren-Belgique-Annales-Serie in-8-Sciences Zoologiques-No. 228. 124 pp.
Loiselle, P. V. 1992. An annotated key to the genus Hemichromis Peters 1958. Buntbarsche Bulletin (Journal of the American Cichlid Association) 148:2-19.
Sauvage, M. 1880. Note sur quelques poissons recueillis par M. Letourneux, en Épire, à Corfou, et dans le lac Maréotis. Bulletin de la Société Philomathique de Paris 4: 211-215.
Rivas, L. R. 1965. Florida fresh water fishes and conservation. Quarterly Journal of the Florida Academy of Science 28(3):255-258.
Smith-Vaniz, W. F., J. D. Williams, L. G. Nico, and W. Loftus. Key to the cichlid fishes of Florida. Unpublished mimeograph (in prep).
Other Resources:
FishBase Fact Sheet
Author: Leo Nico, Pam Fuller and Pamela J. Schofield
Revision Date: 12/13/2006 Citation for this information:
Leo Nico, Pam Fuller and Pamela J. Schofield. 2009. Hemichromis letourneuxi. USGS Nonindigenous Aquatic Species Database, Gainesville, FL.
<http://nas.er.usgs.gov/queries/FactSheet.asp?speciesID=457> Revision Date: 12/13/2006
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