Ecological Risk Screening Summary - Arapaima (Arapaima gigas) - 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.

Arapaima gigas is a large freshwater fish that is native to the Amazon River basin. A. gigas is an obligate air breather that can reach up to 200 kg in weight and 450 cm in length. This species has been declining in its native range due to fishing pressure. A. gigas is also used in aquaculture and the pet trade, but its international trade is restricted through the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES). Possession of A. gigas is prohibited in the U.S. States of Oklahoma, Texas, Arizona, and Florida. A. gigas has been introduced outside its native range in Peru, Bolivia, Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand, Mexico, Cuba, China, the Philippines, and Singapore; it is confirmed to have become established in Bolivia and Peru, is probably established in Thailand, and may be established in Indonesia, Malaysia, China, and the Philippines. There have been reports of A. gigas in the United States, but all specimens were from museums or confiscated at airports. There have been reports of impacts of introduction in Bolivia, but data to support these reports were not found in English language publications. The history of invasiveness is classified as Data Deficient. The climate match for the contiguous United States is medium overall, with the highest matches occurring along the Gulf and southern Atlantic coastlines. The certainty of assessment is low due to lack of information on impacts and the inability of the climate matching analysis to account for the known lower lethal temperature limit for the species. The overall risk assessment category for Arapaima gigas is Uncertain.