Further feral poeciliid fish in New Zealand fresh waters, with a key to species

Abstract

The poeciliid fish, Phalloceros caudimaculatus (commonly referred to as the "caudo"), is recorded from the wild for the first time, occurring in stock-water troughs on a farm near Kamo in Northland, New Zealand. The populations in the stock troughs reputedly came from a nearby stream c. 10 years ago, although a preliminary search has failed to reveal them to be there now. Presence of an additional exotic fish in New Zealand fresh waters is a matter for concern, and requires management. To facilitate recognition off. caudimaculatus, and its distinction from other poeciliids present here, a diagnosis is provided to enable identification, together with notes on natural history, and a key for the identification of the five species of Poeciliidae now known from natural waters in New Zealand.

New records and invasive potential of the poeciliid fishPhalloceros caudimaculatus

“…1998;Aranha & Caramaschi 1999;Esteves & LobonCervia2001;Maddern, 2003) Both species abundant in a wide variety of still or slow-flowing water bodies (Jubb 1976/77 ;Unmack 1995;Aranhaetal. 1998;McDowall 1999;Esteves & LobonCervia2001;Allen et al 2002) Phalloceros genera may be better able to withstand variable hydological regimes (Meffe 1984) Tolerant of both freshwater and marine conditions (NSW NPWS 2003). Temperatures from 0.5 to 38°C (Swanson & Chech 1996;Clarke et al 2000).…”

“…Drab, pale olive-greenish dorsally, becoming grey with blue sheen on sides and silvery on belly (Allen 2002) Phalloceros caudimaculatus South America between Brazil and Uruguay (Rosen & Bailey 1963;Bisazza & Pilastro 1997;Allen 2002) Yellowish overall with a black blotch on caudal peduncle edged with silver or gold (Endler 1984;Allen 2002). Variable coloration depending on location, generally mottled yellow with black spots Both species have large brood sizes, short gestation periods, and multiple broods per year (Milton & Arthington 1983;McKay 1984;Wheeler 1985;Arias & Reznick 2000;Dawes 2001) Breeding season may be longer than for G. holbrooki (Maddern 2003) Aggressive carnivore (Dionne 1985;Arthington & Marshall 1999) and cannibal (Sokolov 1936;McKay 1984;Merrick & Schmida 1984;Meffe 1985) Non-aggressive (Griffiths 1972;Merrick & Schmida 1984;McDowall 1999) algivore (Sterba 1962;Sabinoetal. 1990;Aranhaetal.…”

Shoot first, and then ask questions: A look at aquarium fish imports and invasiveness in New Zealand

“…It was initially thought that a population in a stockwater pond near Whangarei had originated in a small stream nearby (McDowall 1999), though subsequent information has not corroborated that and the status of this species in the wild remains uncertain. The ability of caudo to live at ambient temperatures in Northland fresh waters highlights the potential for some aquarium species to become established in the wild.…”

Range extension of the invasive fish Xiphophorus maculatus (Günther, 1866) (Cyprinodontiformes: Poeciliidae) in the upper Magdalena river basin, Colombia

“…In aquatic environments, introduction of species is frequently associated with human activities (Ortega 2015), and this seems to be true for exotic poeciliids that are used as biological control agents for diseases vectored by mosquitoes as well as ornamental aquarium fish (Axelrod et al 2007, Chandra et al 2008, McDowall et al 2010, Ghosh et al 2010, MousaviSabet & Eadgeri 2014.…”

“…These invasions have been facilitated by their use as ornamental species, and as biological control for mosquitoes (Axelrod et al 2007, Chandra et al 2008, McDowall et al 2010, Ghosh et al 2010.…”