First record of non-native Xiphophorus maculatus (Günther, 1866) (Cyprinodontiformes, Poeciliidae) in the state of Maranhão, northeastern Brazil

Abstract

During a field expedition in 2020, we recorded specimens of an invasive platy fish, Xiphophorus maculatus, in the state of Maranhão, Brazil. This new occurrence, in the Municipality of São Luis, is only the second time that this non-native species has been found in northeastern Brazil. We provide an updated list of all invasive species recorded from the island of São Luís, highlighting the negative impacts they may confer for the native biodiversity.

Checklist of the fish fauna of the Munim River Basin, Maranhão, north-eastern Brazil

“…Brazilian freshwaters are subject to multitude anthropogenic threats, such as: deforestation resulting in suppression or reduction of the original vegetation cover, due to logging and expansion of agricultural and urban areas; release of domestic and industrial effluents and chemical products from agricultural activities in aquatic environments, resulting in pollution; irregular water abstraction for different urban, industrial and agricultural uses; soil erosion and silting of the environments; river damming and construction of hydroelectric power plants, disrupting fish migration routes and destroying the natural habitats of fish species; extraction of sand from the riverbeds; mining, resulting in modification of habitats and water pollution and contamination; modification and diversion of the river channels; introduction of non-native species; overharvesting for the aquarium trade; ghost fishing; and overfishing of food fishes ( Dudgeon et al 2006 , Pereira et al 2016 , Pelicice et al 2017 , Reid et al 2019 , Zarfl et al 2019 , Zeni et al 2019 , Bergmann et al 2020 , Castro and Polaz 2020 , Ottoni et al 2021 , Azevedo-Santos et al 2021 , Doria et al 2021 , Vitorino et al 2022 , Rocha et al 2023 ). Despite the high freshwater native fish diversity, non-native fish species have proliferated in Brazil and in Brazilian hydrographic systems where they do not occur naturally due to several human activities, such as: aquaculture, intentional introductions and release, aquarium trade, mosquito larvae biological control interventions, transposition of water between isolated river basins, sport fishing, amongst other activities ( Figueredo and Giani 2005 , Azevedo-Santos et al 2011 , Vitule et al 2015 , Latini et al 2016 , Padial et al 2017 , Bragança et al 2020 , Doria et al 2021 , Ottoni et al 2021 , Franco et al 2022 , Rocha et al 2023 ). Non-native species have caused changes in the local assemblage composition and in the abundance of native species populations, causing major environmental impacts ( Giacomini et al 2011 , Latini et al 2016 , Padial et al 2017 , Doria et al 2021 , Ottoni et al 2021 , Rocha et al 2023 ).…”

“…Despite the high freshwater native fish diversity, non-native fish species have proliferated in Brazil and in Brazilian hydrographic systems where they do not occur naturally due to several human activities, such as: aquaculture, intentional introductions and release, aquarium trade, mosquito larvae biological control interventions, transposition of water between isolated river basins, sport fishing, amongst other activities ( Figueredo and Giani 2005 , Azevedo-Santos et al 2011 , Vitule et al 2015 , Latini et al 2016 , Padial et al 2017 , Bragança et al 2020 , Doria et al 2021 , Ottoni et al 2021 , Franco et al 2022 , Rocha et al 2023 ). Non-native species have caused changes in the local assemblage composition and in the abundance of native species populations, causing major environmental impacts ( Giacomini et al 2011 , Latini et al 2016 , Padial et al 2017 , Doria et al 2021 , Ottoni et al 2021 , Rocha et al 2023 ).…”