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.
Atractosteus spatula is a large fish native to the Mississippi River basin and Gulf of Mexico coastal drainages in the U.S. and Mexico. It has become rare in much of its native range. Individuals have been collected in California and South Carolina, outside the native range, but no introduced established populations are known in the U.S. Several individuals have been collected in Asian countries, as well, but again no established populations have been documented. Impacts of introduction remain unknown. Aquarium releases appear to be the predominant pathway of introduction. Climate match to the contiguous U.S. is high. Without information on impacts of
introductions, the overall risk posed by A. spatula is uncertain.
Publication date
Type of document
Uncertain Risk
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