Mass Alien Fish Species in the Fish Fauna of Inland Waters in Central Vietnam

Epitheliocystis in armoured catfish (Pterygoplichthys spp.), anabas (Anabas testudineus) and tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) in central Vietnam

“…In this study, significantly lower level of co‐infection in armoured catfish in comparison with the other two fish species may be caused by the status of the fish in the ecosystem. As a newly established invasive species (Gusakov et al., 2018; Stolbunov et al., 2021; Stolbunova & Tran Duc Dien, 2019), armoured catfish may be less sensitive to pathogenic agents in their invaded territories (Kołodziej‐Sobocińska et al., 2018). Because the richness of pathogens in non‐native invasive species is expected to increase over time (Kołodziej‐Sobocińska et al., 2018), level of infection in this fish species needs to be followed up in future studies.…”

Food Spectrum, Trophic and Length-Weight Characteristics of Nonindigenous Suckermouth Armored Catfishes Pterygoplichthys spp. (Loricariidae) in Vietnam

“…Suckermouth armored catfishes are one of the major groups of nonindigenous species posing a serious threat to tropical freshwater ecosystems (Lowe et al, 2004;Liang et al, 2005;Godwin et al, 2016;Stolbunov and Tran Duc Dien, 2019). Suckermouth armored catfishes were first found in Southeast Asia more than 30 years ago (Weber, 1992;Kottelat et al, 1993;Welcomme and Vidthayanom, 2003;Page and Robins, 2006).…”

“…Numerous populations of Pterygoplichthys spp. inhabiting the basins of all relatively large rivers of Central and Southern Vietnam were recorded in 2017-2019(Stolbunov et al, 2017Gusakov et al, 2018;Stolbunov et al, 2017Stolbunov et al, , 2020Stolbunov et al, , 2021. According to the data of phenetic, morphological, and molecular genetic analyses, it was found that currently two species of suckermouth armored catfish reliably inhabit the water bodies and watercourses of Vietnam: P. pardalis (Castelnau, 1855) and P. disjunctivus (Weber, 1991), and each of them is represented by several phylogenetic lines whose representatives are able to hybridize with each other (Stol-bunov et al, 2021).…”

“…According to the data of phenetic, morphological, and molecular genetic analyses, it was found that currently two species of suckermouth armored catfish reliably inhabit the water bodies and watercourses of Vietnam: P. pardalis (Castelnau, 1855) and P. disjunctivus (Weber, 1991), and each of them is represented by several phylogenetic lines whose representatives are able to hybridize with each other (Stol-bunov et al, 2021). Their high adaptive potential and fecundity (Armbruster, 1998;Nico and Fuller, 1999;Mendoza et al, 2009;Rueda-Jasso et al, 2013) allow them to quickly colonize spatial and trophic niches in new habitats, replacing native fish species (Chaichana et al, 2011;Orfinger and Goodding, 2018;Stolbunov and Tran Duc Dien, 2019).…”

“…It has been currently established that suckermouth armored catfishes Pterygoplichthys spp. inhabit the basins of practically all large river systems of Vietnam at different altitudes above sea level, from lowlands to mountain regions: Mekong, Dong Nai, Serepok, Da Rang, Cai, and many others (Gusakov et al, 2018;Stolbunov and Tran Duc Dien, 2019;Stolbunov et al, 2017Stolbunov et al, , 2020Stolbunov et al, , 2021. Apparently there are close competitive interactions, including for food resources, between numerous populations of armored catfish and native fish species.…”