Ecological Risk Screening Summary - African Bonytongue (Heterotis niloticus) - Uncertain Risk

Species that are considered uncertain risk need a more in-depth assessment beyond the Risk Summary to better define the species’ risk to U.S. environments. This additional information will help inform decisions on where, when, and how the species may be used to minimize risks of them becoming invasive.

Heterotis niloticus, the African Bonytongue, is a large freshwater fish native to the Sahelo-Sudanese region in Northwest Africa. It has been widely introduced in the Congo Basin and Madagascar because of its value in aquaculture, and it is established in the wild in these areas. H. niloticus also is used for commercial fisheries and in commercial aquaria. In the United States, this species is (or has been) in trade under the name “African Arowana,” but it has not been reported as introduced in the United States. The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FFWCC) lists H. niloticus as a prohibited species. General adverse impacts of H. niloticus introduction has been noted, and some regard it as a potential pest. However, there are no scientific studies documenting negative impacts of this species’ introduction. Therefore, history of invasiveness is classified as “none documented.” H. niloticus has a low climate match with the contiguous United States. Certainty of this assessment is low because there is a lack of research into impacts of introductions of H. niloticus. The overall risk assessment category is uncertain.